Plant chromosome compositions and methods

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for the identification and cloning of functional plant centromeres in  Arabidopsis . This will permit construction of stably inherited minichromosomes which can serve as vectors for the construction of transgenic plant and animal cells. In addition, information on the structure and function of these regions will prove valuable in isolating additional centromeric and centromere related genetic elements and polypeptides from other species.

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/125,219, filed Mar. 18, 1999, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/127,409, filed Apr. 1, 1999, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/134,770, filed May 18, 1999, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/153,584, filed Sep. 13, 1999, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/154,603, filed Sep. 17, 1999 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No ______, filed Dec. 16, 1999, each of which disclosures is specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The government owns rights in the invention pursuant to U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant No. 96-35304-3491, National Science Foundation Grant No. 9872641 and Grant No. DOEDE-FG05-920R22072 from the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology. More a particularly, it concerns plant chromosome compositions and methods for using the same.

II. Description of Related Art

Two general approaches are used for introduction of new genetic information (“transformation”) into cells. One approach is to introduce the new genetic information as part of another DNA molecule, referred to as a “vector,” which can be maintained as an independent unit (an episome) apart from the chromosomal DNA molecule(s). Episomal vectors contain all the necessary DNA sequence elements required for DNA replication and maintenance of the vector within the cell. Many episomal vectors are available for use in bacterial cells (for example, see Maniatis et al., 1982). However, only a few episomal vectors that function in higher eukaryotic cells have been developed. The available higher eukaryotic episomal vectors are based on naturally occurring viruses and most function only in mammalian cells (Willard, 1997). In higher plant systems the only known double-stranded DNA viruses that replicate through a double-stranded intermediate upon which an episomal vector could be based is the gemini virus, although the gemini virus is limited to an approximately 800 bp insert. Although an episomal plant vector based on the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus has been developed, its capacity to carry new genetic information also is limited (Brisson et al., 1984).

The other general method of genetic transformation involves integration of introduced DNA sequences into the recipient cell's chromosomes, permitting the new information to be replicated and partitioned to the cell's progeny as a part of the natural chromosomes. The most common form of integrative transformation is called “transfection” and is frequently used in mammalian cell culture systems. Transfection involves introduction of relatively large quantities of deproteinized DNA into cells. The introduced DNA usually is broken and joined together in various combinations before it is integrated at random sites into the cell's chromosome (see, for example Wigler et al., 1977). Common problems with this procedure are the rearrangement of introduced DNA sequences and unpredictable levels of expression due to the location of the transgene in the genome or so called “position effect variation” (Shingo et al., 1986). Further, unlike episomal DNA, integrated DNA cannot normally be precisely removed. A more refined form of integrative transformation can be achieved by exploiting naturally occurring viruses that integrate into the host's chromosomes as part of their life cycle, such as retroviruses (see Cepko et al., 1984). In mouse, homologous integration has recently become common, although it is significantly more difficult to use in plants (Lam et al. 1996).

The most common genetic transformation method used in higher plants is based on the transfer of bacterial DNA into plant chromosomes that occurs during infection by the phytopathogenic soil bacterium Agrobacterium (see Nester et al., 1984). By substituting genes of interest for the naturally transferred bacterial sequences (called T-DNA), investigators have been able to introduce new DNA into plant cells. However, even this more “refined” integrative transformation system is limited in three major ways. First, DNA sequences introduced into plant cells using the Agrobacterium T-DNA system are frequently rearranged (see Jones et al., 1987). Second, the expression of the introduced DNA sequences varies between individual transformants (see Jones et al., 1985). This variability is presumably caused by rearranged sequences and the influence of surrounding sequences in the plant chromosome (i.e., position effects), as well as methylation of the transgene. A third drawback of the Agrobacterium T-DNA system is the reliance on a “gene addition” mechanism: the new genetic information is added to the genome (i.e., all the genetic information a cell possesses) but does not replace information already present in the genome.

One attractive alternative to commonly used methods of transformation is the use of an artificial chromosome. Artificial chromosomes are man-made linear or circular DNA molecules constructed from cis-acting DNA sequence elements that are responsible for the proper replication and partitioning of natural chromosomes (see Murray et al., 1983). Desired elements include: (1) Autonomous Replication Sequences (ARS) (these have properties of replication origins, which are the sites for initiation of DNA replication), (2) Centromeres (site of kinetochore assembly and responsible for proper distribution of replicated chromosomes at mitosis or meiosis), and (3) Telomeres (specialized DNA structures at the ends of linear chromosomes that function to stabilize the ends and facilitate the complete replication of the extreme termini of the DNA molecule).

At present, the essential chromosomal elements for construction of artificial chromosomes have been precisely characterized only from lower eukaryotic species. ARSs have been isolated from unicellular fungi, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer's yeast) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (see Stinchcomb et al., 1979 and Hsiao et al., 1979). An ARS behaves like a replication origin allowing DNA molecules that contain the ARS to be replicated as an episome after introduction into the cell nuclei of these fungi. Plasmids containing these sequences replicate, but in the absence of a centromere they are partitioned randomly into daughter cells.

Artificial chromosomes have been constructed in yeast using the three cloned essential chromosomal elements. Murray et al, 1983, disclose a cloning system based on the in vitro construction of linear DNA molecules that can be transformed into yeast, where they are maintained as artificial chromosomes. These yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) contain cloned genes, origins of replication, centromeres and telomeres and are segregated in daughter cells with high fidelity when the YAC is at least 100 kB in length. Smaller CEN containing vectors may be stably segregated, however, when in circular form.

None of the essential components identified in unicellular organisms, however, function in higher eukaryotic systems. For example, a yeast CEN sequence will not confer stable inheritance upon vectors transformed into higher eukaryotes. While such DNA fragments can be readily introduced, they do not stably exist as episomes in the host cell. This has seriously hampered efforts to produce artificial chromosomes in higher organisms.

In one case, a plant artificial chromosome was discussed (Richards et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,201). However, this vector was based on plant telomeres, as a functional plant centromere was not disclosed. While telomeres are important in maintaining the stability of chromosomal termini, they do not encode the information needed to ensure stable inheritance of an artificial chromosome. It is well documented that centromere function is crucial for stable chromosomal inheritance in almost all eukaryotic organisms (reviewed in Nicklas 1988). For example, broken chromosomes that lack a centromere (acentric chromosomes) are rapidly lost from cell lines, while fragments that have a centromere are faithfully segregated. The centromere accomplishes this by attaching, via centromere binding proteins, to the spindle fibers during mitosis and meiosis, thus ensuring proper gene segregation during cell divisions.

In contrast to the detailed studies done in S. cerevisiae and S. pombe, little is known about the molecular structure of functional centromeric DNA of higher eukaryotes. Ultrastructural studies indicate that higher eukaryotic kinetochores, which are specialized complexes of proteins that form on the chromosome during late prophase, are large structures (mammalian kinetochore plates are approximately 0.3 μm in diameter) which possess multiple microtubule attachment sites (reviewed in Rieder, 1982). It is therefore possible that the centromeric DNA regions of these organisms will be correspondingly large, although the minimal amount of DNA necessary for centromere function may be much smaller.

While the above studies have been useful in elucidating the structure and function of centromeres, they have failed to provide a cloned centromere from a higher eukaryotic organism. The extensive literature indicating both the necessity of centromeres for stable inheritance of chromosomes, and the non-functionality of yeast centromeres in higher organisms, demonstrate that cloning of a functional centromere from a higher eukaryote is a necessary first step in the production of artificial chromosomes suitable for use in higher plants and animals. The production of artificial chromosomes with centromeres which function in higher eukaryotes would overcome many of the problems associated with the prior art and represent a significant breakthrough in biotechnology research.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for the identification of plant centromeres. In one embodiment of the invention, the method may comprise tetrad analysis. Briefly, tetrad analysis measures the recombination frequency between genetic makers and a centromere by analyzing all four products of individual meiosis. A particular advantage arises from the quartet (qrt 1) mutation in Arabidopsis, which causes the four products of pollen mother cell meiosis in Arabidopsis to remain attached. The quartet mutation may also find use in accordance with the invention in species other than Arabidopsis. For example, several naturally occurring plant species are also known to release pollen clusters, including water lilies, cattails, heath (Ericaceae and Epacridceae), evening primrose (Onagraceae), sundews (Droseraceae), orchids (Orchidaceae), and acacias (Mimosaceae) (Preuss 1994; Smyth 1994). None of these species however, has been developed into an experimental systems thus severely limiting their use for genetic analysis. However, it is contemplated by the inventors that a quartet mutation could be introduced into a host plant to enable the use of tetrad analysis in potentially any species. When used to pollinate a flower, one tetrad can result in the formation of four seeds, and the plants from these seeds can be analyzed genetically. With unordered tetrads, however, such as those produced by Arabidopsis, genetic mapping using tetrad analysis requires that two markers be scored simultaneously.

In another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a plant centromere. The recombinant DNA construct may additionally comprise any other desired sequences, for example, a telomere, including a plant telomere such as an Arabidopsis thaliana telomere, or alternatively, a yeast or any, other type of telomere. One may also desire to include an autonomous replicating sequence (ARS), such as a plant ARS, including an Arabidopsis thaliana ARS. Still further, one may wish to include a structural gene on the construct, or multiple genes (for example, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, fifty, one hundred, two hundred, five hundred, one thousand) up to and including the maximum number of structural genes (roughly 5000) which can physically be placed on the recombinant DNA construct. Examples of structural genes one may wish to use include a selectable or screenable marker gene, an antibiotic resistance gene, a herbicide resistance gene, a nitrogen fixation gene, a plant pathogen defense gene, a plant stress-induced gene, a toxin gene, a receptor gene, a ligand gene, a hormone gene, an enzyme gene, an interleukin gene, a clotting factor gene, a cytokine gene, an antibody gene, a growth factor gene and a seed storage gene. In one embodiment of the invention, the construct is capable of expressing the structural gene, for example, in a prokaryote or eukaryote, including a lower eukaryote, or a higher eukaryote such as a plant.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a plant centromere and which is a plasmid. The plasmid may contain any desired sequences, such as an origin of replication, including an origin of replication functions in bacteria, such as E. coli and Agrobacterium, or in plants or yeast, for example, such as S. cerevisiae. The plasmid may also comprises a selection marker, which may function in bacteria, including E. coli and Agrobacterium, as well as a selection marker that functions in plants or yeast, such as S. cerevisiae.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a plant centromere and which is capable of being maintained as a chromosome, wherein the chromosome is transmitted in dividing cells. The plant centromere may be from any plant.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a plant centromere which is further defined as an Arabidopsis thaliana centromere. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the plant centromere is an Arabidopsis thaliana-chromosome 1 centromere, and may still further be defined as flanked by the genetic markers T22C23-T7 and T3P8-SP6, or still further as flanked by the genetic markers T22C23-T7 and T5D18, T22C23-17 and T31A, T5D18 and T3P8-SP6, T5D18 and T31A, and T3LA and T3P8-SP6. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the plant centromere comprises an Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 2 centromere. The chromosome 2 centromere may comprise, for example, from about 100 to about 611,000, about 500 to about 611,000, about 1,000 to about 611,000, about 10,000 to about 611,000, about 20,000 to about 611,000, about 40,000 to about 611,000, about 80,000 to about 611,000, about 150,000 to about 611,000, or about 300,000 to about 611,000 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:209, including comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:209. The centromere may also be defined as comprising from about 100 to about 50,959, about 500 to about 50,959, about 1,000 to about 50,959, about 5,000 to about 50,959, about 10,000 to about 50,959, 20,000 to about 50,959, about 30,000 to about 50,959, or about 40,000 to about 50,959 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:210, and may comprise the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ A) NO:210. The centromere may comprise sequences from both SEQ ID NOS:209 and 210, including the aforementioned fragments, or the entirety of SEQ ID NOS:209 and 210. In particular embodimemnts, the inventors contemplate a 3′ fragment of SEQ ID NO:209 can be fused to a 5′ fragment of SEQ ID NO:210, optionally including one or more 180 bp repeat sequence disposed therebetween.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides an Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 3 centromere. In one embodiment of the invention, the centromere may be further defined a: flanked by the genetic markers T9G9-SP6 and T5M14-SP6, and still further defined as flanked by a pair of genetic markers selected from the group consisting of T9G9-SP6 and T14H₂₀, T9G9-SP6 and T7K14, T9G9-SP6 and T21P0, T14H₂O and T7K14, T14H₂O and T21P20, T14H₂O and T5M14-SP6, 17K14 and T5M14SP6, T7K14 and T21P20, and T21P20 and T5M14-SP6.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides an Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 4 centromere. In certain embodiments of the invention, the centromere may comprise from about 100 to about 1,082,000, about 500 to about 1,082,000, about 1,000 to about 1,082,000, about 5,000 to about 1,082,000, about 10,000 to about 1,082,000, about 50,000 to about 1,082,000, about 100,000 to about 1,082,000, about 200,000 to about 1,082,000, about 400,000 to about 1,082,000, or about 800,000 to about 1,082,000 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:211, including comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:211. The centromere may also be defined as comprising from about 100 to about 163,317, about 500 to about 163,317, about 1,000 to about 163,317, about 5,000 to about 163,317, about 10,000 to about 163,317, about 30,000 to about 163,317, about 50,000 to about 163,317, about 80,000 to about 163,317, or about 120,000 to about 163,317 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:212, and may be defined as comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:212. The centromere may comprise sequences from both SEQ ID NOS:211 and 212, including the aforementioned fragments, or the entirety of SEQ ID NOS:211 and 212. In particular embodiments, the inventors contemplate a 3′ fragment of SEQ ID NO:211 can be fused to a 5′ fragment of SEQ D) NO:212, optionally including one or more 180 bp repeat sequence disposed therebetween.

In yet another embodiment, there is provided a Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 1, 3 or 5 centromere selected from the nucleic acid sequence given by SEQ ID NO:184, SEQ ID NO:185, SEQ ID NO:186, SEQ ID NO:187, SEQ ED NO:188, SEQ ID NO:189, SEQ ID NO:190, SEQ ID NO:191, SEQ ID NO:192, SEQ ID NO:193, SEQ ID NO:194, SEQ ID-NO:195, SEQ ID NO:196, SEQ ID NO:197, SEQ ID NO:198, SEQ ID NO:199, SEQ ID NO:200, SEQ ID NO:201, SEQ ID NO:202, SEQ ID NO:203, SEQ ID NO:204, SEQ ID) NO:205, SEQ ID NO:206, SEQ ID NO:207, SEQ ID NO:208, or fragments thereof. In one embodiment, the construct comprises at least 100 base pairs, up to an including the full length, of one of the preceding sequences. In addition, the construct may include 1 or more 180 base pair repeats.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides an Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 5 centromere. The centromere may be further defined as flanked by the genetic markers F13K20-T7 and CUE1, and still further defined as flanked by a pair of genetic markers selected from the group consisting of F13K20 T7 and T18M4, F13K20-T7 and T18F2, F13K20-T7 and T24I20, T18M4 and T18F2, T18M4 and T24I20, T18M4 and CUE1, T18F2 and T24I20, T18F2 and CUE1, and T24I20 and CUE1.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a plant centromere, and further defined as comprising n copies of a repeated nucleotide sequence, wherein n is at least 2. Potentially any number of repeat copies capable of physically being placed on the recombinant construct could be included on the construct, including about 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, 50,000, 60,000, 70,000, 80,000, 90,000 and about 100,000, including all ranges in-between such copy numbers. In one embodiment the repeated nucleotide sequence may be isolatable from the nucleic acid sequence given by SEQ ID NO:184, SEQ ID NO:185, SEQ ID NO:186, SEQ ID NO:187, SEQ ID NO:188, SEQ ID NO:189, SEQ ID NO:190, SEQ ID NO:191, SEQ ID NO:192, SEQ ID NO:193, SEQ D NO:194, SEQ ID NO:195, SEQ ID NO:196, SEQ ID NO:197, SEQ ID NO:198, SEQ ID NO:199, SEQ ID NO:200, SEQ ID NO:201, SEQ ID NO:202, SEQ ID NO:203, SEQ ID NO:204, SEQ ID NO:205, SEQ ID NO:206, SEQ ID NO:207, SEQ ID NO:208, SEQ ID NO:209, SEQ ID NO:210, SEQ HD NO:211 or SEQ ID NO:212. Examples of such sequences that could be used are given in FIGS. 23A-23D. The length of the repeat used may vary, but will preferably range from about 20 bp to about 250 bp, from about 50 bp to about 225 bp, from about 75 bp to about 210 bp, from about 100 bp to about 205 bp, from about 125 bp to about 200 bp, from about 150 bp to about 195 bp, from about 160 bp to about 190 and from about 170 bp to about 185 bp including about 180 bp.

In conjunction with SEQ ID NOS:209, 210, 211 and 212, the repeats may be included as part of centromeric structures. The number of repeats may vary and include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 300, 400, 500 or more.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a minichromosome vector comprising a plant centromere and a telomere sequence. Any additional desired sequences may be added to the minichromosome, such as an autonomous replicating sequence, a second telomere sequence and a structural gene. One or more of the foregoing sequences may be added, up to the maximum number of such sequences that can physically be placed on the minichromosome. The minichromosome may comprise any of the centromere compositions disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the invention, the minichromosome may comprise a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID

NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, and SEQ ID NO:21. The minichromosome also may contain “negative” selectable markers which confer susceptibility to an antibiotic, herbicide or other agent, thereby allowing for selection against plants, plant cells or cells of any other organism of interest containing a minichromosome. The minichromosome also may include genes which control the copy number of the minichromosome within a cell. One or more structural genes also may be included in the minichromosome. Specifically contemplated as being useful will be as many structural genes as may be inserted into the minichromosome while still maintaining a functional vector. This may include one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more structural genes.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising a plant centromere. The cell may be of any type, including a prokaryotic cell or eukaryotic cell. Where the cell is a eukaryotic cell, the cell may be, for example, a yeast cell or a higher eukaryotic cell, such as plant cell. The plant cell may be from a dicotyledonous plant, such as tobacco, tomato, potato, soybean, canola, sunflower, alfalfa, cotton and Arabidopsis, or may be a monocotyledonous plant cell, such as wheat, maize, rye, rice, turfgrass, oat, barley, sorghum, millet, and sugarcane. In one embodiment of the invention, the plant centromere is an Arabidopsis thaliana centromere, and the cell may be an Arabidopsis thaliana cell. The recombinant DNA construct may comprise additional sequences, such as a telomere, an autonomous replicating sequence (ARS), a structural gene, or a selectable or screenable marker gene, including as many of such sequences as may physically be placed on said recombinant DNA construct. In one embodiment of the invention, the cell is further defined as capable of expressing said structural gene. In another embodiment of the invention, a plant is provided comprising the aforementioned cells.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of preparing a transgenic plant cell comprising contacting a starting plant cell with a recombinant DNA construct comprising a plant centromere, whereby said starting plant cell is transformed with said recombinant DNA construct. The recombinant DNA construct may comprise any desired sequences, such as many structural genes as can physically be placed on said recombinant DNA construct. In particular embodiments, the centromere is an Arabidopsis thaliana centromere, and the plant cell may be an Arabidopsis thaliana cell.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a transgenic plant comprising a minichromosome vector, wherein the vector comprises a plant centromere and a telomere sequence. The minichromosome vector may further comprise an autonomous replicating sequence, second telomere sequence, or a structural gene, such as an antibiotic resistance gene, a herbicide resistance gene, a nitrogen fixation gene, a plant pathogen defense gene, a plant stress-induced gene, a toxin gene, a receptor gene, a ligand gene, a seed storage gene, a hormone gene, an enzyme gene, an interleukin gene, a clotting factor gene, a cytokine gene, an antibody gene, and a growth factor gene. As many of such sequences may be included as can physically be placed on the minichromosome. The minichromosome vector may further comprise a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ED NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ D NO: 10, SEQ NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ED NO: 13, SEQ ED NO: 14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, and SEQ ID NO:21. The transgenic plant may be any type of plant, such as a dicotyledonous plant, for example, tobacco, tomato, potato, pea, carrot, cauliflower, broccoli, soybean, canola, sunflower, alfalfa, cotton and Arabidopsis, or may be a monocotyledonous plant, such as wheat, maize, rye, rice, turfgrass, oat, barley, sorghum, millet, and sugarcane.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing a minichromosome vector comprising: (a) obtaining a first vector and a second vector, wherein said first vector or said second vector comprises a selectable or screenable marker, an origin of replication, a telomere, and a plant centromere, and wherein said first vector and said second vector comprises a site for site-specific recombination; and (b) contacting said first vector with said second vector to allow site-specific recombination to occur between said site for site-specific recombination on said first vector and said site for site-specific recombination on said second vector to create a minichromosome vector comprising said selectable or screenable marker, said origin of replication, said telomere and said plant centromere. The contacting may be done in vitro or in vivo, including wherein the contacting is carried out in a prokaryotic cell such as an Agrobacterium or E. coli cell, or in a lower eukaryotic cell, such as a yeast cell. The contacting may still further be carried out in a higher eukaryotic cell, such as a plant cell, including an Arabidopsis thaliana cell. The contacting may be done in the presence of potentially any recombinase, including Cre, Flp, Gin, Pin, Sre, pinD, Int-B13, and R. The first vector or second vector may comprise border sequences for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In one embodiment of the invention, the plant centromere is an Arabidopsis thaliana centromere. The telomere may be a plant telomere. Any plant selectable or screenable marker could be used, including GFP, GUS, BAR, PAT, HPT or a NPTII.

In still yet another aspect, a method is provided of screening a candidate centromere sequence for plant centromere activity, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a candidate centromere sequence; (b) integratively transforming plant cells with said isolated nucleic acid; and (c) screening for centromere activity of said candidate centromere sequence. In the method, the screening may comprise observing a phenotypic effect present in the integratively transformed plant cells or plants comprising the plant cells, wherein the phenotypic effect is absent in a control plant cell not integratively transformed with said isolated nucleic acid sequence, or a plant comprising said control plant cell. Types of phenotypic effects that could be screened for include reduced viability, reduced efficiency of said transforming, genetic instability in the integratively transformed nucleic acid, aberrant plant sectors, increased ploidy, aneuploidy, and increased integrative transformation in distal or centromeric chromosome regions. The isolated nucleic acid sequence may comprise a bacterial artificial chromosome, which may be further defined as a binary bacterial artificial chromosome. The integratively transforming may comprise use of any type of transformation, such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In one embodiment of the invention, the control plant cell has been integratively transformed with a nucleic acid sequence other than a candidate centromere sequence.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising an Arabidopsis polyubiquitin 11 promoter, wherein the promoter comprises from about 25 to about 2,000 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:180. In further embodiments of the invention, the promoter may comprise from about 75 to about 2,000, from about 125 to about 2,000, from about 200 to about 2,000, from about 400 to about 2,000, from about 800 to about 2,000, from about 1,000 to about 2,000, or from about 1,500 to about 200 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:180, or may comprise the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:180. The promoter containing construct may comprise any additional desired sequences, for example, that of an enhancer, a telomere sequence, a plant centromere sequence, an ARS, or a structural gene, including an antibiotic resistance gene, a herbicide resistance gene, a nitrogen fixation gene, a plant pathogen defense gene, a plant stress-induced gene, a toxin gene, a receptor gene, a ligand gene, a seed storage gene, a hormone gene, an enzyme gene, an interleukin gene, a clotting factor gene, a cytokine gene, an antibody gene, and a growth factor gene. In one embodiment of the invention, the promoter may be operably linked to the 5′ end of the structural gene.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising an Arabidopsis 40S ribosomal protein S16 promoter, wherein said promoter comprises from about 25 to about 2,000 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:182. In particular embodiments of the invention, the promoter may comprise from about 75 to about 2,000, from about 125 to about 2,000, from about 200 to about 2,000, from about 400 to about 2,000, from about 800 to about 2,000, from about 1,000 to about 2,000 or from about 1500 to about 2,000 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:182, or may comprise the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:182. The promoter containing construct may comprise any additional desired sequences, for example, that of an enhancer, a telomere sequence, a plant centromere sequence, an ARS, or a structural gene, including an antibiotic resistance gene, a herbicide resistance gene, a nitrogen fixation gene, a plant pathogen defense gene, a plant stress-induced gene, a toxin gene, a receptor gene, a ligand gene, a seed storage gene, a hormone gene, an enzyme gene, an interleukin gene, a clotting factor gene, a cytokine gene, an antibody gene, and a growth factor gene. In one embodiment of the invention, the promoter may be operably linked to the 5′ end of the structural gene.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising an Arabidopsis polyubiquitin 11 3′ regulatory sequence including the terminator sequence, wherein the 3′ regulatory sequence comprises from about 25 to about 2001 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 181. In one embodiment of the invention, the 3′ regulatory sequence may be further defined as comprising from about 75 to about 2001, from about 125 to about 2001, from about 200 to about 2001, from about 400 to about 2001, from about 800 to about 2001, or from about 1,000 to about 2001 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:181, and may comprise the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:181. The recombinant sequence may further comprise any other sequence, for example, an enhancer, a telomere sequence, a plant centromere sequence, an ARS, and a structural gene, including an antibiotic resistance gene, a herbicide resistance gene, a nitrogen fixation gene, a plant pathogen defense gene, a plant stress-induced gene, a toxin gene, a receptor gene, a ligand gene, a seed storage gene, a hormone gene, an enzyme gene, an interleukin gene, a clotting factor gene, a cytokine gene, an antibody gene, and a growth factor gene. In one embodiment of the invention, the terminator may be operably linked to the 3′ end of the structural gene.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a recombinant DNA construct comprising an Arabidopsis 40S ribosomal protein S16 3′ regulatory sequence including the terminator sequence, wherein the 3′ regulatory sequence comprises from about 25 to about 2,000 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:183. In particular embodiments of the invention, the 3′ regulatory sequence may comprise from about 75 to about 2,000, from about 125 to about 2,000, from about 200 to about 2,000, from about 400 to about 2,000, from about 800 to about 2,000, or from about 1,000 to about 2,000 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:183, and may comprise the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:183. The recombinant sequence may further comprise any other sequence, for example, an enhancer, a telomere sequence, a plant centromere sequence, an ARS, and a structural gene, including an antibiotic resistance gene, a herbicide resistance gene, a nitrogen fixation gene, a plant pathogen defense gene, a plant stress-induced gene, a toxin gene, a receptor gene, a ligand gene, a seed storage gene, a hormone gene, an enzyme gene, an interleukin gene, a clotting factor gene, a cytokine gene, an antibody gene, and a growth factor gene. In one embodiment of the invention, the terminator may be operably linked to the 3′ end of the structural gene.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides methods for expressing foreign genes in plants, plant cells or cells of any other organism of interest. The foreign genes may be from any organism, including plants, animals and bacteria. It is further contemplated that minichromosomes could be used to simultaneously transfer multiple foreign genes to a plant comprising entire biochemical or regulatory pathways. In yet another embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the minichromosomes can be used as DNA cloning vectors. Such a vector could be used in plant and animal sequencing projects. The current invention may be of particular use in the cloning of sequences which are “unclonable” in yeast and bacteria, but which may be easier to clone in a plant based system.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, it is contemplated that the minichromosomes disclosed herein may be used to clone functional segments of DNA such as origins of DNA replication, telomeres, telomere associated genes, nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs), scaffold attachment regions (SARs), boundary elements, enhancers, silencers, promoters, recombinational hot-spots and centromeres. This embodiment may be carried out by cloning DNA into a defective minichromosome which is deficient for one or more type of functional elements. Sequences which complement such deficient elements would cause the minichromosome to be stably inherited. A selectable or screenable marker on the minichromosome could then be used to select for viable minichromosome containing cells which contain cloned functional elements of the type that were non-functional in the defective minichromosome.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the sequences disclosed herein may be used for the isolation of centromeric sequences from plants other than Arabidopsis. Such techniques may employ, for example, hybridization or sequence-based analysis. In one embodiment of the invention, the centromere may be isolated from agriculturally important species such as, for example, vegetable crops, including artichokes, kohlrabi, arugula, leeks, asparagus, lettuce (e.g., head, leaf, romaine), bok choy, malanga, broccoli, melons (e.g., muskmelon, watermelon, crenshaw, honeydew, cantaloupe), brussels sprouts, cabbage, cardoni, carrots, napa, cauliflower, okra, onions, celery, parsley, chick peas, parsnips, chicory, chinese cabbage, peppers, collards, potatoes, cucumber plants (marrows, cucumbers), pumpkins, cucurbits, radishes, dry bulb onions, rutabaga, eggplant, salsify, escarole, shallots, endive, garlic, spinach, green onions, squash, greens, beet (sugar beet and fodder beet), sweet potatoes, swiss chard, horseradish, tomatoes, kale, turnips, and spices. Alterantively, centromeres could be isolated from fruit and vine crops such as apples, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, quince almonds, chestnuts, filberts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, citrus, blueberries, boysenberries, cranberries, currants, loganberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, avocados, bananas, kiwi, persimmons, pomegranate, pineapple, tropical fruits, pomes, melon, mango, papaya, and lychee.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, centromeres could be isolated in accordance with the invention from field crop plants, such as evening primrose, meadow foam, corn (field, sweet, popcorn), hops, jojoba, peanuts, rice, safflower, small grains (barley, oats, rye, wheat, etc.), sorghum, tobacco, kapok, leguminous plants (beans, lentils, peas, soybeans), oil plants (rape, mustard, poppy, olives, sunflowers, coconut, castor oil plants, cocoa beans, groundnuts), fibre plants (cotton, flax, hemp, jute), lauraceae (cinnamon, camphor), or plants such as coffee, sugarcane, tea, and natural rubber plants. Still other examples of plants from which centromeres could be isolated include bedding plants such as flowers, cactus, succulents and ornamental plants, as well as trees such as forest (broad-leaved trees and evergreens, such as conifers), fruit, ornamental, and nut-bearing trees, as well as shrubs and other nursery stock.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the minichromosome vectors described herein may, be used to perform efficient gene replacement studies. At present, gene replacement has been detected on only a few occasions in plant systems and has only been detected at low frequency in mammalian tissue culture systems (see Thomas et al., 1986; Smithies et al., 1985). The reason for this is the high frequency of illegitimate nonhomologous recombination events relative to the frequency of homologous recombination events (the latter are responsible for gene replacement). Artificial chromosomes may participate in homologous recombination preferentially. Since the artificial chromosomes remain intact upon delivery, no recombinogenic broken ends will be generated to serve as substrates for the extremely efficient illegitimate recombination machinery. Thus, the artificial chromosome vectors disclosed by the present invention will be maintained in the nucleus through meiosis and available to participate in homology-dependent meiotic recombination. In addition, because in principle, artificial chromosomes of any length could be constructed using the teaching of the present invention, the vectors could be used to introduce extremely long stretches of DNA from the same or any other organism into cells. Specifically contemplated inserts include those from about several base pairs to one hundred megabase pairs, including about 1 kb, 25 kB, 50 kB, 100 kB, 125 kB, 150 kB, 200 kB, 300 kB, 400 kB, 500 kB, 600 kB, 700 kB, 800 kB, 900 kB, 1 MB, 1.25 Mb, 1.5 Mb, 2 Mb, 3 Mb, 5 Mb, 10 Mb, 25 Mb, 50 Mb and 100 Mb.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides methods for the construction of minichromosome vectors for the genetic transformation of plant cells, uses of the vectors, and organisms transformed by them. Standard reference works setting forth the general principles of recombinant DNA technology include Lewin, 1985. Other works describe methods and products of genetic engineering. See, e.g., Maniatis et al., 1982; Watson et al., 1983; Setlow et al., 1979; and Dillon et al., 1985.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of preparing a transgenic cell. In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of: a.) obtaining a nucleic acid molecule comprising Arabidopsis thaliana centromere DNA having the following characteristics: 1.) mapping to a location on an Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome defined by a pair of genetic markers selected from the group consisting of: mi342 and T27K12, mi310 and g4133, atpox and ATA, mi233 and mi167, and F13K20t7 and CUE1, and 2.) sorts DNA to the spindle poles in meiosis 1 in a pattern indicating the disjunction of homologous chromosomes, b) preparing a recombinant construct comprising said nucleic acid molecule; and c) transforming a recipient cell with said recombinant construct.

The cell may be, for example, a lower eukaryotic cell including a yeast cell, or may be a higher eukaryotic cell. Where the cell is a higher eukaryotic cell, the cell may be an animal or plant cell. In one embodiment of the invention, the cell is not an Arabidopsis thaliana cell. In another embodiment of the invention, the Arabidopsis thaliana centromere is defined by the marker pair mi342 and T27K12, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T22C23-t7 and T3P8-sp6; and/or is defined by the marker pair mi310 and g4133, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair F5J15-sp6 and T15D9; and/or is defined by the marker pair atpox and ATA, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T9G9-sp6 and T5M14-sp6; and/or is defined by the marker pair mi233 and mi167, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T24H24.30k3 and F13H14-t7; and/or is defined by the genetic marker pair F13K20-t7 and CUE1, which may be further defined by a genetic marker pair selected from the group consisting of F13K20-T7 and T18M4, F13K20-T7 and T18F2, F13K20-7 and T24I20, T18M4 and T18F2, T18M4 and T24I20, T18M4 and CUE1, T18F2 and T24I20, T18F2 and CUE1, and T24I20 and CUE1.

In one embodiment of the invention, the transforming may comprise use of a method selected from the group consisting of: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, protoplast transformation, electroporation, or particle bombardment. The recombinant construct may comprise desired elements, including a telomere, such as an Arabidopsis thaliana or yeast telomere. The recombinant construct may also comprise an autonomous replicating sequence (ARS), for example, an Arabidopsis thaliana ARS. The recombinant construct may also comprise a prokaryotic or eukaryotic selectable or screenable marker gene. Also desired to include with a recombinant construct may be one or more structural genes. Exemplary structural genes include a gene selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic resistance gene, a herbicide resistance gene, a nitrogen fixation gene, a plant pathogen defense gene, a plant stress-induced gene, a toxin gene, a seed storage gene, a hormone gene, an enzyme gene, an interleukin gene, a clotting factor gene, a cytokine gene, an antibody gene, and a growth factor gene. The method may further comprise the step of regenerating a transgenic plant from said cell.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of identifying a nucleic acid molecule capable of conferring centromere activity comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a nucleic acid molecule comprising Arabidopsis thaliana centromere DNA, wherein the Arabidopsis thaliana centromere is defined by a pair of genetic markers selected from the group consisting of mi342 and T27K12, mi310 and g4133, atpox and ATA, mi233 and mi167, and F13K20-t7 and T17M11-sp6; b) preparing a recombinant construct that comprises the nucleic acid molecule; and c) determining the ability of the recombinant construct to demonstrate a stable inheritance pattern. In the method, the ability to demonstrate a stable inheritance pattern may be determined by preparing a recombinant cell that comprises the recombinant construct. In another embodiment of the invention, the Arabidopsis thaliana centromere is defined by the marker pair mi342 and T27K12, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T22C23-t7 and T3P8-sp6; and/or is defined by the marker pair mi310 and g4133, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair F5J15-sp6 and T15D9; and/or is defined by the marker pair atpox and ATA, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T9G9-sp6 and T5M14-sp6; and I or is defined by the marker pair mi233 and mi167, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T24H24.30k3 and F13H14-t7; and/or is defined by the genetic marker pair F13K20-t7 and CUE1, which may be further defined by a genetic marker pair selected from the group consisting of F13K20-7 and T18M4, F13K20-T7 and T18F2, F13K20-7T and T24I20, T18M4 and T18F2, T18M4 and T24I20, T18M4 and CUE1, T18F2 and T24I20, T18F2 and CUE1, and T24I20 and CUE. I.

In one embodiment of the invention, the recombinant construct is not chromosomally integrated. Said obtaining may comprise obtaining a BAC or YAC clone comprising said Arabidopsis thaliana centromere DNA. The DNA may be obtained by a method that includes the use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and may be obtained by a method that includes positional cloning. In another embodiment of the invention, the positional cloning may comprise identifying a contiguous set of clones comprising said Arabidopsis thaliana centromere DNA, wherein said set of clones is flanked by a pair of genetic markers selected from the group consisting of mi342 and T27K12, mi310 and g4133, atpox and ATA, mi233 and mi167, and F13K20-t7 and T17M11-sp6.

The contiguous set of clones may span the Arabidopsis thaliana centromere. The recombinant construct may comprise a selectable or screenable marker and said step of determining may comprise determining a phenotype conferred by the selectable or screenable marker. The determining may comprise, for example, determining the ability of the recombinant construct to demonstrate a stable inheritance pattern in mitosis and/or meiosis. In still another embodiment, the invention provides a transgenic cell prepared by a method provided by the invention. Also provided by the invention are a transgenic plant, plant parts and tissue cultures comprising the transgenic cell. In another embodiment of the invention, the Arabidopsis thaliana centromere is defined by the marker pair mi342 and T27K12, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T22C23-t7 and T3P8-sp6; and/or is defined by the marker pair mi310 and g4133, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair F5J15-sp6 and T15D9; and/or is defined by the marker pair atpox and ATA, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T9G9-sp6 and T5M14-sp6; and/or is defined by the marker pair mi233 and mi167, which may be further defined by the genetic marker pair T24H24.30k3 and F13H14-t7; and/or is defined by the genetic marker pair F13K20-t7 and CUE1, which may be further defined by a genetic marker pair selected from the group consisting of F13K20-T7 and T18M4, F13K20-T7 and T18F2, F13K20-T7 and T24I20, T18M4 and T18F2, T18M4 and T24I20, T18M4 and CUE1, T18F2 and T24I20, T18F2 and CUE1, and T24I20 and CUE1.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, a centromere used in accordance with the invention is not from Arabidopsis, for example, from Arabidopsis thaliana. Similarly, a plant or plant cell comprising a centromere composition in accordance with the invention, may also be from a plant other than Arabidopsis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein. The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1. Centromere mapping with unordered tetrads: A cross of two parents (AABB×aabb), in which “A” is on the centromere of one chromosome, and “B” is linked to the centromere of a second chromosome. At meiosis, the A and B chromosomes assort independently, resulting in equivalent numbers of parental ditype (PD) and nonparental ditype (NPD) tetrads (recombinant progeny are shown in gray). Tetratype tetrads (TT) result only from a crossover between “B” and the centromere.

FIG. 2. Low resolution map location of Arabidopsis centromeres. Trisomic mapping was used to determine the map position of centromeres on four of the five Arabidopsis chromosomes (Koornneef, 1983; Sears et al, 1970). For chromosome 4, useful trisomic strains were not obtained. With the methods of Koornneef and Sears et at 1983. (which rely on low-resolution deletion mapping) the centromere on chromosome 1 was found to lie between the two visible markers, tt1 and ch1, that are separated by 5 cM. Centromere positions on the other chromosomes are mapped to a lower resolution.

FIG. 3. Physical maps of the genetically-defined Arabidopsis centromeres. Each centromeric region is drawn to scale; physical sizes are derived from DNA sequencing (chromosomes II and IV) or from estimates based on BAC fingerprinting (Marra et al., 1999; Mozo et al., 1999) (chromosomes I, III, and V). Indicated for each chromosome are positions of markers (above), the number of tetratype/total tetrads at those markers (below), the boundaries of the centromere (thick black bars), and the name of contigs derived from fingerprint analysis (Marra et al., 1999; Mozo et al., 1999). For each contig, more than two genetic markers, developed from the database of BAC-end sequences (http://www.tigr.org/tdb/at/abe/bac end_search.html) were scored. PCR primers corresponding to these sequences were used to identify size or restriction site polymorphisms in the Columbia and Landsberg ecotypes (Bell and Ecker, 1994; Konieczny and Ausubel, 1993); primer sequences are available (http://genome-www.stanford.edu/Arabidopsis/aboutcaps.html). Tetratype tetrads resulting from treatments that stimulate crossing over (boxes); positions of markers in centimorgans (cM) shared with the recombinant inbred (RI) map (ovals) (http://nasc.nott.ac.uk/new_ri_map.html; Somerville and Somerville, 1999); and sequences bordering gaps in the physical map that correspond to 180 bp repeats (open circles) (Round et al., 1997), 5S rDNA (black circles) or 160 bp repeats (gray circles) are indicated (Copenhaver et al., 1999).

FIG. 4. Exemplary list of seed stock used for tetrad analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana. The individual strains are identified by the strain number (column B). The tetrad member number (column A) indicates the tetrad source (i.e., T1 indicates seeds from tetrad number 1, and the numbers -1, -2, -3, or -4 indicate individual members of the tetrad). The strains listed have been deposited with the Arabidopsis Biological Resources Center (ABRC) at Ohio State University under the name of Daphne Preuss.

FIG. 5. Marker information for centromere mapping. DNA polymorphisms used to localize the centromeres are indicated by chromosome (Column 1). The name of each marker is shown in Column 2, the name of the markers used by Copenhaver et al., 1999 to position centromeres is given in Column 3 and marker type is indicated in Column 4. CAPS (Co-dominant Amplified Polymorphic Sites) are markers that can be amplified with PCR and detected by digesting with the appropriate restriction enzyme (also indicated in Column 3). SSLPs (Simple Sequence length Polymorphisms) detect polymorphisms by amplifying different length PCR products. Column 5 notes if the marker is available on public web sites (e.g., http://genome-www.stanford.edu/Arabidopsis). For those markers that are not available on public web sites the sequences of the forward and reverse primers used to amplify the marker are listed in columns 6 and 7, respectively.

FIG. 6. Scoring PCR-based markers for tetrad analysis. The genotype of the progeny from one pollen tetrad (T2) was determined for two genetic markers (SO392 and nga76). Analysis of the four progeny plants (T2-1 through T24) using PCR and gel electrophoresis allows the genotype of the plant to be determined, and the genotype of the pollen parent to be inferred.

FIG. 7A-7N. Exemplary Minichromosome vectors: The vectors shown in FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 7E, FIG. 7F, FIG. 7I and FIG. 7J have an E. coli origin of replication which can be high copy number, low copy number or single copy. In FIGS. 7A-7N, the vectors include a multiple cloning site which can contain recognition sequences for conventional restriction endonucleases with 4-8 bp specificity as well as recognition sequences for very rare cutting enzymes such as, for example, I-Ppo I, I-Cue I, PI-Tli, PI-Psp I, Not I, and PI Sce I. In FIG. 7A-7N, the centromere is flanked by Lox sites which can act as targets for the site specific recombinase Cre. FIG. 7A. Shows an E. coli plant circular shuttle vector with a plant ARS. FIG. 7B. Shows a plant circular vector without a plant ARS. The vector relies on a plant origin of replication function found in other plant DNA sequences such as selectable or screenable markers. FIG. 7C. Shows a yeast-plant circular shuttle vector with a plant ARS. The yeast ARS is included twice, once on either side of multiple cloning site to ensure that large inserts are stable. FIG. 7D. Shows a yeast-plant circular shuttle vector without a plant ARS. The vector relies on a plant origin of replication function found in other plant DNA sequences such as selectable markers. The yeast ARS is included twice, once on either side of the multiple cloning site to ensure that large inserts are stable. FIG. 7E. Shows an E. coli-Agrobacterium-plant circular shuttle vector with a plant ARS. Vir functions for T-DNA transfer would be provided in trans by a using the appropriate Agrobacterium strain. FIG. 7F. Shows an E. coli-Agrobacterium-plant circular shuttle vector without a plant ARS. The vector relies on a plant origin of replication function found in other plant DNA sequences such as selectable markers. Vir functions for T-DNA transfer would be provided in trans by a using the appropriate Agrobacterium strain. FIG. 7G. Shows a linear plant vector with a plant ARS. The linear vector could be assembled in vitro and then transferred into the plant by, for example, mechanical means such as micro projectile bombardment, electroporation, or PEG-mediated transformation. FIG. 7H. Shows a linear plant vector without a plant ARS. The linear vector could be assembled in vitro and then transferred into the plant by, for example, mechanical means such as micro projectile bombardment, electroporation, or PEG-mediated transformation. FIGS. 7I-7N. The figures are identical to FIGS. 7A-7F, respectively, with the exception that they do not contain plant telomeres. These vectors will remain circular once delivered into the plant cell and therefore do not require telomeres to stabilize their ends.

FIG. 8. Sequence features at CEN2 (A) and CEM4 (B). Central bars depict annotated genomic sequence of indicated BAC clones; black, genetically-defined centromeres; white, regions flanking the centromeres. Sequences corresponding to genes and repetitive features, filled boxes (above and below the bars, respectively), are defined as in FIG. 12A-T; predicted nonmobile genes, red; genes carried by mobile elements, black; nonmobile pseudogenes, pink; pseudogenes carried by mobile elements, gray; retroelements, yellow; transposons, green; previously defined centromeric repeats, dark blue; 180 bp repeats, pale blue. Chromosome-specific centromere features include a large mitochondrial DNA insertion (orange; CEN2), and a novel array of tandem repeats (purple; CEN4). Gaps in the physical maps (//), unannotated regions (hatched boxes), and expressed genes (filled circles) are shown.

FIG. 9. Method for converting a BAC clone (or any other bacterial clone) into a minichromosome. A portion of the conversion vector will integrate into the BAC clone (or other bacterial clone of interest) either through non-homologous recombination by (transposable element mediated) or by the action of a site specific recombinase system, such as Cre-Lox or FLY-FRT.

FIG. 10. Method for analysis of dicentric chromosomes in Arabidopsis. BiBAC vectors containing centromere fragments (˜100 kb) are integrated into the Arabidopsis genome using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation procedures and studied for adverse affects due to formation of dicentric chromosomes. 1) BiBACs containing centromere fragments are identified using standard protocols. 2) Plant transformation. 3) Analysis of defects in growth and development of plants containing dicentric chromosomes.

FIG. 11A-G. Method for converting a BAC clone (or any other bacterial clone) into a minichromosome. The necessary selectable markers and origins of replication for propagation of genetic material in E. coli, Agrobacterium and Arabidopsis as well as the necessary genetic loci for Agrobacterium mediated transformation into Arabidopsis are cloned into a conversion vector. Using Cre/loxP recombination, the conversion vectors are recombined into BACs containing centromere fragments to form minichromosomes.

FIG. 12A-T. Properties of centromeric regions on chromosomes II and IV. (Top) Drawing of genetically-defined centromeres (gray shading, CEN2, left; CEN4, right), adjacent pericentromeric DNA, and a distal segment of each chromosome, scaled in Mb as determined by DNA sequencing (gaps in the grey shading correspond to gaps in the physical maps). Positions in cM on the RI map (http://nasc.nott.ac.uk/new_ri_map.html) and physical distances in Mb, beginning at the northern telomere and at the centromeric gap, are shown. (Bottom) The density of each feature (FIGS. 12A-12T) is plotted relative to the position on the chromosome in Mb. (FIGS. 12A, 12K) cM positions for markers-on the RI map (solid squares) and a curve representing the genomic average of 1 cM/221 kb (dashed line). A single crossover within CEN4 in the R1 mapping population (http://nasc.nott.ac.uk/new_rimap.html; Somerville and Somerville, 1999) may reflect a m difference between male meiotic recombination monitored here and recombination in female meiosis. (FIGS. 12B-12E and FIGS. 12L-12O) The % of DNA occupied by a repetitive elements was calculated for a 100 kb window with a sliding interval of 10 kb. (FIGS. 12B, 12L) 180 bp repeats; (FIGS. 12C, 12M) sequences with similarity to retroelements, including del, Ta1, Tal1, copia, Athila, LINE, Ty3, TSCL, 106B (Athila-like), Tat1, LTRs and Cinful; (FIGS. 12D, 12N) sequences with similarity to transposons, including Tag1, En/Spm, Ac/Ds, Tami MuDR, Limpet, MITES and Mariner; (FIGS. 12E, 12O) previously described centromeric repeats including 163A, 164A, 164B, 278A, 11B7RE, mi167, pAT27, 160-, 180- and 500-bp repeats, and telomeric sequences (Murata et al., 1997; Heslop-Harrison et al., 1999; Brandes et al., 1997; Franz et al., 1998; Wright et al., 1996; Konieczny et al., 1991; Pelissier et al., 1995; Voytas and Ausubel, 1988; Chye et al., 1997; Tsay et al., 1993; Richards et al., 1991; Simoens et al., 1988; Thompson et al., 1996; Pelissier et al., 1996 Franz et al., 1998; Pelissier et al., 1995; Voytas and Ausubel, 1988; Thompson et al., 1996). (FIGS. 12F, 12P) % adenosine+thymidine was calculated for a 50 kb window with a sliding interval of 25 kb (FIGS. 12G-12J, 12Q-12T). The number of predicted genes or pseudogenes was plotted over a window of 100 kb with a sliding interval of 10 kb. (FIGS. 12G, 12I, 12Q, 12S) predicted genes (FIGS. 12G, 12Q) and pseudogenes (FIGS. 12I, 12S) typically not found on mobile DNA elements; (FIGS. 12H, 12J, 12R, 12T) predicted genes (FIGS. 12H, 12R) and pseudogenes (FIGS. 12J, 12T) often carried on mobile DNA, including reverse transcriptase, transposase, and retroviral polyproteins. Dashed lines indicate regions in which sequencing or annotation is in progress, annotation was obtained from GenBank records (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/nucleotide.html), from the AGAD database (http://www.tigr.org/tdb/at/agad/.), and by BLAST comparisons to the database of repetitive Arabidopsis sequences (http://nucleus.cshl.org/protarab/AtRepBase.htm); though updates to annotation records may change individual entries, the overall structure of the region will not be significantly altered.

FIG. 13. Methods for converting a BAC clone containing centromere DNA into a minichromosome for introduction into plant cells. The specific elements described are provided for exemplary purposes and are not limiting. A) diagram of the BAC clone, noting the position of the centromere DNA (red), a site-specific recombination site (for example, lox P), and the F origin of replication. B) Conversion vector containing selectable and color markers (for example, 35S-Bar, nptII, LAT52-GUS, Scarecrow-GFP), telomeres, a site-specific recombination site (for example, lox P), antibiotic resistance markers (for example, amp or spc/str), Agrobacterium T-DNA borders (Agro Left and Right) and origin of replication (RiA4). C) The product of site specific recombination with the Cre recombinase at the lox P sites yields a circular product with centromeric DNA and markers flanked by telomeres. D) Minichromosome immediately after transformation into plants; subsequently, the left and right borders will likely be removed by the plant cell and additional telomeric sequence added by the plant telomerase.

FIGS. 14A-B. Conservation of centromere DNA. BAC clones (bars) used to sequence CEN2 (FIG. 14A) and CEN4 (FIG. 14B) are indicated; arrows denote the boundaries of the genetically-defined centromeres. PCR primer pairs yielding products from only Columbia (filled circles) or from both Landsberg and Columbia (open circles); BACs encoding DNA with homology to the mitochondrial genome (gray bars); 180 bp repeats (gray boxes); unsequenced DNA (dashed lines); and gaps in the physical map (double slashes) are shown.

FIGS. 15A-B. Primers used to analyze conservation of centromere sequences in the A. thaliana Columbia and Landsberg ecotypes. FIG. 15A: Primers used for amplification of chromosome 2 sequences. FIG. 15B: Primers used for amplification of chromosome 4 sequences.

FIG. 16. Sequences common to CEN2 and CEN4. Genetically-defined oj centromeres (bold lines), sequenced (thin lines), and unannotated (dashed lines) BAC. Id clones are displayed as in FIG. 14A, B. Repeats AtCCS1 (A. thaliana centromere conserved sequence) and AtCCS2 (closed and open circles, respectively), AtCCS3 (triangles), and AtCCS4-7 (4-7, respectively) are indicated (GenBank Accession numbers AF204874 to AF204880), and were identified using BLAST 2.0 (http://blast.wustl.edu).

FIG. 17. Sequenced BAC clones from centromere 2. The sequenced BAC clones are indicated by the horizontal lines near the top of the figure (see for example T14A4). The red box denotes the boundaries of centromere 2, and for the BAC clones that comprise the centromere, GenBank Accession numbers are given in the lower right panel. The contiguous sequences within the red box are given by SEQ ID NO:209 and SEQ ID NO:210. Horizontal lines below the sequenced clones indicate additional BAC clones; sequenced end points of these BACs are indicated with a closed circle. Clones with one or more endpoints that are undetermined are indicated by red text.

FIG. 18. Sequenced BAC clones from centromere 4. The sequenced BAC clones from centromere 4 are indicated by the horizontal lines near the top of the figure (see for example T24M8). The red box denotes the boundaries of centromere 4, and for the BAC clones that comprise the centromere, GenBank Accession numbers are given in the lower right panel. The contiguous sequences within the red box are given by SEQ ID NO:211 and SEQ ID NO:212. Horizontal lines below the sequenced clones indicate additional BAC clones; sequenced end points of these BACs are indicated with a closed circle. Clones with one or more endpoints that are undetermined are indicated by red text.

FIG. 19. Sequence tiling path of centromeres 1, 3 and 5. The boundaries of these centromeres was determined as described in Copenhaver et al (1999). Contig numbers refer to the fingerprint contigs assembled by Marra et al. (1999). Some of these clones have been sequenced and accession numbers are provided (see attached list). In other cases, sequencing will be finished by the Arabidopsis genome project.

FIG. 20. Position of DNA from centromere 2 carried in BiBAC vectors. Clones were placed on the physical map by fingerprint and PCR analysis and comparison with the sequenced BAC clones.

FIG. 21. Exemplary methods for adding selectable or screenable markers to BiBAC clones. The desired marker is flanked by transposon borders, and incubated with the BiBAC in the presence of transposase. Subsequently, the BiBAC is introduced into plants. Often these BiBACs may integrate into natural chromosome, creating a dicentric chromosome which may have altered stability and may cause chromosome breakage, resulting in novel chromosome fragments.

FIG. 22. Assay of chromosome stability. The stability of natural chromosomes, constructed minichromosome, or dicentric chromosomes can be assessed by monitoring the assortment of color markers through cell division. The markers are linked to the centromere in modified BAC or BiBAC vectors and introduced into plants. Regulation of the marker gene by an appropriate promoter determines which tissues will be assayed. For example, root-specific promoters, such as SCARECROW make it possible to monitor assortment in files of root cells; post-meiotic pollen-specific promoters such as LAT52 allow monitoring of assortment through meiosis, and general promoters such as the 35S Cauliflower mosaic virus promoter make it possible to monitor assortment in many other plant tissues. Qualitative assays assess the general pattern of stability and measure the size of sectors corresponding to marker loss, while quantitative assays require knowledge of cell lineage and allow the number of chromosome loss events to be calculated during mitosis and meiosis.

FIG. 23A-D. Sequence alignments for 180 bp repeats from centromeres 14. The left hand column indicates the BAC source of the repeat copy and an arbitrarily assigned number given to the sequence. For example, the designation f12g6-1 indicates a repeat copy from BAC number f12g6 and arbitrarily given a repeat number of 1. The nucleic acid sequences of the BACs containing the repeat copies, designated f12g6, f5a13, t25f15, t12j2, t14c8, t6c20, f21i2, and f6h8 are given by SEQ ID NO:184, SEQ ID NO:191, SEQ ID NO:189, SEQ ID NO:205, SEQ ID NO:206, SEQ ID NO:186, SEQ ID NO:208 and SEQ ID NO:207, respectively. FIG. 23A. Alignment of 180 bp repeats from centromere 1. FIG. 23B. Alignment of 180 bp repeats from centromere 2. FIG. 23C. Alignment of 180 bp repeats from centromere 3. FIG. 23D. Alignment of 180 bp repeats from centromere 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have overcome the deficiencies in the prior art by providing, for the first time, the nucleic acid sequence of a plant chromosome. The significance of this achievement relative to the prior art is exemplified by the general lack of detailed information in the art regarding the centromeres of multicellular organisms in general. To date, the most extensive and reliable characterization of centromere sequences has come from studies of lower eukaryotes such as S. cerevisiae and S. pombe, where the ability to analyze centromere functions has provided a clear picture of the desired DNA sequences. The S. cerevisiae centromere consists of three essential regions, CDEI, CDEII, and CDEIII, totaling only 125 bp, or approximately 0.006 to 0.06% of each yeast chromosome (Carbon et al., 1990; Bloom 1993). S. pombe centromeres are between 40 and 100 kB in length and consist of repetitive elements that comprise 1 to 3% of each chromosome (Baum et al., 1994). Subsequent studies, using tetrad analysis to follow the segregation of artificial chromosomes, demonstrated that less than ⅕ of the naturally occurring S. pombe centromere is sufficient for centromere function (Baum et al., 1994).

In contrast, the centromeres of mammals and other higher eukaryotes are poorly defined. Although DNA fragments that hybridize to centromeric regions in higher eukaryotes have been identified, little is known regarding the functionality of these sequences (see Tyler-Smith et al., 1993). In many cases centromere repeats correlate with centromere location, with probes to the repeats mapping both cytologically and genetically to centromere regions. Many of these sequences are tandemly-repeated satellite elements and dispersed repeated sequences in arrays ranging from 300 kB to 5000 kB in length (Willard 1990). To date, only one of these repeats, a 171 bp element known as the alphoid satellite, has been shown by in situ hybridization to be present at each human centromere (Tyler-Smith et al., 1993). Whether repeats themselves represent functional centromeres remains controversial, as other genomic DNA is required to confer inheritance upon a region of DNA (Willard, 1997). Alternatively, the positions of some higher eukaryotic centromeres have been estimated by analyzing the segregation of chromosome fragments. This approach is imprecise, however, because a limited set of fragments can be obtained, and because normal centromere function is influenced by surrounding chromosomal sequences (for example, see Koornneef, 1983; FIG. 2).

A more precise method for mapping centromeres that can be used in intact chromosomes is tetrad analysis (Mortimer et al., 1981), which provides a functional definition of a centromere in its native chromosomal context. At present, the only centromeres that have been mapped in this manner are from lower eukaryotes, including the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Kluyveromyces lactis (Carbon et al., 1990; Hegemann et al., 1993). In these systems, accurate mapping of the centromeres made it possible to clone centromeric DNA, using a chromosome walking strategy (Clarke et al., 1980). Subsequently, artificial chromosome assays were used to define more precisely the centromere sequences (Hegemann et al., 1993; Baum et al., 1994).

Attempts to develop a reliable centromeric assay in mammals have yielded ambiguous results. For example, Hadlaczky et al., (1991) identified a 14 kB human fragment that can, at low frequency, result in de novo centromere formation in a mouse cell line. In situ hybridization studies, however, have shown that this fragment is absent from naturally occurring centromeres, calling into question the reliability of this approach for testing centromere function (Tyler-Smith et al., 1993). Similarly, transfection of alphoid satellites into cell lines results in the formation of new chromosomes, yet these chromosomes also contain host sequences that could contribute centromere activity (Haaf et al., 1992; Willard, 1997). Further, the novel chromosomes can have alphoid DNA spread throughout their length yet have only a single centromeric constriction, indicating that a block of alphoid DNA alone may be insufficient for centromere function (Tyler-Smith et al., 1993).

Although plant centromeres can be visualized easily in condensed chromosomes, they have not been characterized as extensively as centromeres from yeast or mammals. Genetic characterization has relied on segregation analysis of chromosome fragments, and in particular on analysis of trisomic strains that carry a genetically marked, telocentric fragment (for example, see Koornneef 1983; FIG. 2). In addition, repetitive elements have been identified that are either genetically (Richards et al, 1991) or physically (Alfenito et al., 1993; Maluszynska et al., 1991) linked to a centromere. In no case, however, has the functional significance of these sequences been tested.

Cytology in Arabidopsis thaliana has served to correlate centromere structure with repeat sequences. A fluorescent dye, DAPI, allows visualization of centromeric chromatin domains in metaphase chromosomes. A fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe based on 180 bp pAL1 repeat sequences colocalized with the DAPI signature near the centromeres of all five Arabidopsis chromosomes (Maluszynska et al., 1991; Martinez-Zapater et al., 1986). Although a functional role for pAL1 has been proposed, more recent studies have failed to detect this sequence near the centromeres in species closely related to Arabidopsis thaliana (Maluszynska et al., 1993). These results are particularly troubling because one of the species tested, A. pumila, is thought to be an amphidiploid, derived from a cross between A. thaliana and another close relative (Maluszynska et al., 1991; Price et al., 1995). Another repetitive sequence, pAtT12, has been genetically mapped to within 5 cM of the centromere on chromosome 1 and to the central region of chromosome 5 (Richards et al., 1991), although its presence on other chromosomes has not been established. Like pAL1, a role for pAtT12 in centromere function remains to be demonstrated.

Due to the fact that kinetochores constitute a necessary link between centromeric DNA and the spindle apparatus, the proteins that are associated with these structures recently have been the focus of intense investigation (Bloom 1993; Earnshaw 1991). Human autoantibodies that bind specifically in the vicinity of the centromere have facilitated the cloning of centromere-associated proteins (CENPs, Rattner 1991), and at least one of these proteins belongs to the kinesin superfamily of microtubule-based motors (Yen 1991). Yeast centromere-binding proteins also have been identified, both through genetic and biochemical studies (Bloom 1993; Lechner et al., 1991).

The centromeres of Arabidopsis thaliana have been mapped using trisomic strains, where the segregation of chromosome fragments (Koornneef 1983) or whole chromosomes (Sears et al., 1970) was used to localize four of the centromeres to within 5, 12, 17 and 38 cM, respectively (FIG. 2). These positions have not been refined by more recent studies because the method is limited the difficulty of obtaining viable trisomic strains (Koornneef 1983). These factors introduce significant error into the calculated position of the centromere, and in Arabidopsis, where 1 cM corresponds roughly to 200 kB (Koornneef 1987; Hwang et al., 1991), this method did not map any of the centromeres with sufficient precision to make chromosome walking strategies practical. Mapping of the Arobidopsis genome was also discussed by (Hauge et al., 1991).

I. Tetrad Analysis

With tetrad analysis, the recombination frequency between genetic markers and a centromere can be measured directly (FIG. 1). This method requires analysis of all four products of individual meiosis, and it has not been applied previously to multicellular eukaryotes because their meiotic products typically are dissociated. Identification of the quartet mutation makes tetrad analysis possible for the first time in a higher eukaryotic system (Preuss et al., 1994). The quartet (qrt 1) mutation causes the four products of a pollen mother cell meiosis in Arabidopsis to remain attached. When used to pollinate a flower, one tetrad can result in the formation of four seeds, and the plants from these a 20 seeds can be analyzed genetically.

With unordered tetrads, such as those produced by S. cerevisiae or Arabidopsis, genetic mapping using tetrad analysis requires that two markers be scored simultaneously (Whitehouse 1950). Tetrads fall into different classes depending on whether the markers are in a parental (nonrecombinant) or nonparental (recombinant) configuration (FIG. 1).

A tetrad with only nonrecombinant members is referred to as a parental ditype (PD); one with only recombinant members as a nonparental ditype (NPD); and a tetrad with two recombinant and two nonrecombinant members as a tetratype (CT) (Perkins 1953). If two genetic loci are on different chromosomes, and thus assort independently, the frequency of tetratype (crossover products) versus parental or nonparental assortment ditype (noncrossover products) depends on the frequency of crossover between each of the two loci and their respective centromeres.

Tetratype tetrads arise only when a crossover has occurred between a marker in question and its centromere. Thus, to identify genes that are closely linked to the centromere, markers are examined in a pair-wise fashion until the TT frequency approaches zero. The genetic distance (in centimorgans, cM) between the markers and their respective centromeres is defined by the function [(½)TT]/100 (Mortimer et al., 1981). Because positional information obtained by tetrad analysis is a representation of physical distance between two points, as one approaches the centromere the chance of a recombination event declines.

Tetrad analysis has been used to genetically track centromeres in yeasts and other fungi in which products of a single meioses can be collected. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacks mitotic condensation and thus cytogenetics (Hegemann et al., 1993), yet due to tetrad analysis, has served as the vehicle of discovery for centromere function. Meiosis is followed by the generation of four spores held within an ascus and these can be directly assayed for gene segregation.

The recessive qrt1 mutation makes it possible to perform tetrad analysis in Arabidopsis by causing the four products of meiosis to remain attached (Preuss et al., 1994; and Smythe 1994; both incorporated herein by reference). As previously shown, within each tetrad, genetic loci segregate in a 2:2 ratio (FIG. 6). Individual tetrads can be manipulated onto flowers with a fine brush (at a rate of 20 tetrads per hour), and in 30% of such crosses, four viable seeds can be obtained (Preuss et al., 1994).

Mapping centromeres with high precision requires a dense genetic map, and although the current Arabidopsis map contains many visible markers, it would be laborious to cross each into the qrt1 background. Alternatively, hundreds of DNA polymorphisms can be introduced simultaneously by crossing two different strains, both containing the qrt1 mutation. A dense RFLP map (Chang et al., 1988) and PCR-based maps (Konieczny et al., 1993; Bell et al., 1994) have been generated in Arabidopsis from crosses of the Landsberg and Columbia strains (Arabidopsis map and genetic marker data is available from the internet at http://genome-www.stanford.edu/Arabidopsis and http://cbil.humgen.upenn.edu/atgc/sslpjnfo/sslp.html). These strains differ by 1% at the DNA sequence level and have colinear genetic maps (Chang et al., 1988; Koornneef, 1987).

Centromere mapping with tetrad analysis requires simultaneous analysis of two markers, one of which must be centromere-linked (FIG. 1). To identify these centromere-linked markers, markers distributed across all 5 chromosomes were scored and compared in a pairwise fashion.

Initially, genetic markers that can be scored by PCR analysis were tested (Konieczny et al., 1993; Bell et al., 1994). Such markers are now sufficiently dense to a map any locus an as additional PCR-detectable polymorphisms are identified they are incorporated into the analyses. In addition, as described in FIG. 5, new CAPS and SSLP markers useful for mapping the centromere can be readily identified.

A collection of Arabidopsis tetrad sets was prepared by the inventors for use in tetrad analysis. To date, progeny plants from >1,000 isolated tetrad seed sets have been germinated and leaf tissue collected and stored from each of the tetrad progeny plants. The leaf tissue from individual plants was used to make DNA for PCR based marker analysis. The plants also were allowed to self-fertilize and the seed they produced was collected. From each of these individual seed sets, seedlings can be germinated and their tissues utilized for making genomic DNA. Tissue pooled from multiple seedlings is useful for making Southern genomic DNA blots for the analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). An exemplary list of the seed stock of informative individuals used for tetrad analysis is given in FIG. 4.

II. Mapping Strategy

Previous DNA fingerprint and hybridization analysis of two bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries had led to the assembly of physical maps covering nearly all single-copy portions of the Arabidopsis genome (Marra et al., 1999). However, the presence of repetitive DNA near the Arabidopsis centromeres, including 180 bp repeats, retroelements, and middle repetitive sequences complicated efforts to anchor centromeric BAC contigs to particular chromosomes (Murata et al. 1997; Heslop-Harrison et al., 1999; Brandes et al., 1997; Franz et al., 1998; Wright et al., 1996; Konieczny et al., 1991; Pelissier et al., 1995; Voytas and Ausubel, 1988; Chye et al., 1997; Tsay et al., 1993; Richards et al., 1991; Simoens et al., 1988; Thompson et al., 1996; Pelissier et al., 1996).

The inventors used genetic mapping to unambiguously assign these unanchored contigs to specific centromeres, scoring polymorphic markers in 48 plants with crossovers informative for the entire genome (Copenhaver et al., 1998). In this manner, several centromeric contigs were connected to the physical maps of the chromosome arms (see EXAMPLE 6), and a large set of DNA markers defining centromere boundaries were generated. DNA sequence analysis confirmed the structure of the contigs for chromosomes II and IV (Lin et al., 1999).

CEN2 and CEN4 were selected in particular for analysis. Both reside on structurally similar chromosomes with a 3.5 Mb rDNA arrays on their distal tips, with regions measuring 3 and 2 Mb, respectively, between the rDNA and centromeres, and 16- and 13 Mb regions on their long arms (Copenhaver and Pikaard, 1996).

The virtually complete and annotated sequence of chromosomes II and IV was used to conduct an analysis of centromeres at the nucleotide level (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/nucleotide.html). The sequence composition was analyzed within the genetically-defined centromere boundaries and compared to the adjacent pericentromeric regions (FIGS. 12A-T). Analysis of the two centromeres facilitated comparisons of sequence patterns and identification of conserved sequence elements.

The centromere sequences were found to harbour 180 bp repeat sequences. These sequences were found to reside in the gaps of each centromeric contig (FIG. 3, FIGS. 12B, 12L), with few repeats and no long arrays elsewhere in the genome. BAC clones near these gaps have end sequences corresponding to repetitive elements that likely constitute the bulk of the DNA between the contigs, including 180 bp repeats, 5S rDNA or 160 bp repeats (FIG. 3). Fluorescent in situ hybridization has shown these repetitive sequences are abundant components of Arabidopsis centromeres (Murata et al., 1997; Heslop-Harrison et al., 1999; Brandes et al., 1997). Genetic mapping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis indicate that many 180 bp repeats reside in long arrays measuring between 0.4 and 1.4 Mb in the centromeric regions (Round et al., 1997); sequence analysis revealed additional interspersed copies near the gaps. The inventors specifically contemplate the use of such 180 bp repeats for the construction of minichromosomes. The annotated sequence of chromosomes II and IV identified regions with homology to middle repetitive DNA, both within the functional centromeres and in the adjacent regions (FIGS. 12B-12E and 12L-12O).

In a 4.3 Mb sequenced region that includes CEN2 and a 2.8 Mb sequenced region that includes CEN4, retrotransposon homology was found to account for >10% of the DNA sequence, with a maximum of 62% and 70%, respectively (FIGS. 12C, 12M). Sequences with similarity to transposons or middle repetitive elements were found to occupy a similar zone, but were less common (29% and 11% maximum density for chromosomes II and IV respectively (FIGS. 12D-12E and FIG. 12N-12O). Finally, unlike in the case of Drosophila and Neurospora centromeres (Sun et al., 1997; Cambareri et al., 1998) low complexity DNA, including microsatellites, homopolymer tracts, and AT rich isochores, were not found to be enriched in the centromeres of Arabidopsis. Near CEN2, simple repeat sequence densities were comparable to those on the distal chromosome arms, occupying 1.5% of the sequence within the centromere, 3.2% in the flanking regions, and ranging from 20 to 319 bp in length (71 bp on average). Except for an insertion of mitochondrial DNA at CEN2 the DNA in and around the centromeres did not contain any large regions that deviated significantly from the genomic average of −64% A+T (FIGS. 12F, 12P) (Bevan et al., 1999).

Unlike the 180 bp repeats, all other repetitive elements near CEN2 and CEN4 were less abundant within the genetically-defined centromeres than in the flanking regions. The high concentration of repetitive elements outside of the functional centromere domain suggest they may be insufficient for centromere activity. Thus, identifying segments of the Arabidopsis genome that are enriched in these repetitive sequences does not pinpoint the regions that provide centromere function; a similar situation may occur in the genomes of other higher eukaryotes.

The repetitive DNA flanking the centromeres may play an important role, forming an altered chromatin conformation that serves to nucleate or stabilize centromere structure. Alternatively, other mechanisms could result in the accumulation of repetitive elements near centromeres. Though evolutionary models predict repetitive DNA accumulates in regions of low recombination (Charlesworth et al., 1986; Charlesworth et al., 1994), many Arabidopsis repetitive elements are more abundant in the recombinationally active pericentromeric regions than in the centromeres themselves. Instead, retroelements and other transposons may preferentially insert into regions flanking the centromeres or be eliminated from the rest of the genome at a higher rate.

III. Centromere Compositions

Certain aspects of the present invention concern isolated nucleic acid segments and recombinant vectors comprising a plant centromere. In one embodiment of the invention, the plant centromere is an Arabidopsis thaliana centromere. In a further embodiment of the invention, nucleic acid sequences comprising an A. thaliana chromosome 2 centromere are provided. The sequence of the Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 2 centromere is exemplified by the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:209 and SEQ ID NO:210. As shown in FIG. 17, the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:209 and SEQ ID NO:210 flank a series of 180 bp repeats in centromere 2 of A. thaliana. As such, the chromosome 2 centromere may further be defined as comprising n number of repeats linked to a nucleic acid sequence included in SEQ ID NO:209 or SEQ ID NO:210, or sequences isolated from both of those sequences. In particular embodiments of the invention, the number of repeats (n), is about 2, 4, 8, 15, 25, 40, 70, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8000, 10,000, 30,000, 50,000 or about 100,000. The actual repeat sequence used may vary. Representative samples of repeat sequences that could be used are given in FIGS. 23A-23D and included in the nucleic acid sequences given by SEQ ID NOs 184-208. The length of the repeat used may also vary, and may include repeats of, for example, about 10 bp, 20 bp, 40 bp, 60 bp, 80 bp, 100 bp, 120 bp, 140 bp, 150 bp, 160 bp, 170 bp, 180 bp, 190 bp, or about 200 bp or larger or a repeat sequence, for example, as listed in FIG. 23A-FIG. 23D and included in the nucleic acid sequences given by SEQ ID NOs 184-208

Isolated segments of the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:209 and SEQ ID NO:210 are also contemplated to be of use with the invention, either with or without being linked to a series of repeats. Particularly, contiguous nucleic acid segments of about 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,500, 3,000, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 15,000, 25,000, 40,000, 75,000, 100,000, 125,000, 150,000, 250,000, 350,000, 450,000, 600,000, 700,00 and a about 800,000 bp of the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:209 or SEQ ID NO:210 specifically form part of the instant invention. In particular embodiments of the invention, such nucleic acid sequences may be linked to n number of repeated sequences, for example, where n is 2, 4, 8, 15, 25, 40, 70, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8000, 10,000, 50,000 or about 100,000. The repeat sequence may comprise, for example, about 10 bp, 20 bp, 40 bp, 60 bp, 80 bp, 100 bp, 120 bp, 140 bp, 150 bp, 160 bp, 170 bp, 180 bp, 190 bp, or about 200 bp or a larger segment of contiguous nucleotides of, for example, a repeat listed in FIG. 23A-FIG. 23D and included in the nucleic acid sequences given by SEQ ID NOs 184-208.

In another embodiment of the invention, nucleic acid sequences comprising an A. thaliana chromosome 4 centromere are provided. The sequence of the Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 4 centromere is exemplified by the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:211 and SEQ ID NO:212. As shown in FIG. 18, the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:211 and SEQ ID NO:212 in Arabidopsis flank a series of repeated sequences. As such, the chromosome 4 centromere may further be defined as comprising n number of repeats linked to a nucleic acid sequence included in SEQ ID NO:211 or SEQ ID NO:212, or sequences from both SEQ ID NO:211 and SEQ A) NO:212. In particular embodiments of the invention, the number of repeats (n), is about 2, 4, 8, 15, 25, 40, 70, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8000, 10,000, 50,000, or about 100,000. The actual repeat sequence used may vary. Representative samples of repeat sequences that could be used are given in FIGS. 23A-23D, wherein these sequences are included in the nucleic acid sequences given by SEQ ID NOs 184-208. The length of the repeat used may also vary, and may include repeats of, for example, about 10 bp, 20 bp, 40 bp, 60 bp, 80 bp, 100 bp, 120 bp, 140 bp, 150 bp, 160 bp, 170 bp, 180 bp, 190 bp, or about 200 bp or larger.

Isolated segments of the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:211 and SEQ ID NO:212 are also contemplated to be of use with the invention, either with or without being linked to a series of repeated sequences. Particularly, contiguous nucleic acid segments of about 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,500, 3,000, 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 15,000, 25,000, 40,000, 75,000, 100,000, 125,000, 150,000, 250,000, 350,000, 450,000, 600,000, 700,00 bp of the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:211 or SEQ ID NO:212 specifically form part of the instant invention. In particular embodiments of the invention, such nucleic acid sequences may be linked to n number of repeated sequences, for example, where n is 2, 4, 8, 15, 25, 40, 70, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8000, 10,000, 50,000 or about 100,000. The repeat sequence may comprise, for example, about 10 bp, 20 bp, 40 bp, 60 bp, 80 bp, 100 bp, 120 bp, 140 bp, 150 bp, 160 bp, 170 bp, 180 bp, 190 bp, or about 200 bp, or a larger segment of contiguous nucleotides of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:184-208.

Also provided by the invention are regulatory regions from the Arabidopsis polyubiquitin 11 gene, including promoter and terminator sequences thereof. The nucleic acid sequences of these regulatory regions are exemplified by the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:180 and SEQ ID NO:181. Also included with such sequences are contiguous stretch of from about 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 300, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,500, and about 2,000 nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID) NO:180 and SEQ ID NO:181. In particular embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable to operably link the Arabidopsis polyubiquitin II promoter sequences to the 5′ end of a coding sequence. It may also be desirable to operably link the Arabidopsis polyubiquitin 11 terminator sequence to the 3′ end of a coding sequence.

Still further provided by the invention are regulatory regions from the Arabidopsis 40S ribosomal protein S16 gene, including promoter and terminator sequences thereof. The nucleic acid sequences of these regulatory regions are exemplified by the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO:182 and SEQ ID NO: 183. Also included with such sequences are contiguous stretch of from about 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 300, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,500, and about 2,000 nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:182 and SEQ ID NO:183. In particular embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable to operably link the Arabidopsis 40S ribosomal protein S16 gene sequences to the 5′ end of a coding sequence. It may also be desirable to operably link the Arabidopsis 40S ribosomal protein S16 gene sequence to the 3′ end of a coding sequence.

Still further provided by the invention are gene sequences and related regulatory elements and sequences with other functions from centromere regions. In particular, the invention includes the centromere sequences given by SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, and SEQ ID NO:21, as well as lengths of about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 500, 550, 590, 1,000, and about 1,500 contiguous nucleotides of these sequences, up to and including the full length of the sequences.

Centromere-containing nucleic acid sequences may be provided with other sequences for the creation and use of recombinant minichromosomes. Such nucleic acid sequences specifically within the scope of the invention include the nucleic acid sequences listed in the sequence listing provided herewith.

The present invention concerns nucleic acid segments, isolatable from A. thaliana cells, that are enriched relative to total genomic DNA or other nucleic acids and are capable of conferring centromere activity to a recombinant molecule when incorporated into the host cell. As used herein, the term “nucleic acid segment” refers to a nucleic acid molecule that has been purified from total genomic nucleic acids of a particular species. Therefore, a nucleic acid segment conferring centromere function refers to a nucleic acid segment that contains centromere sequences yet is isolated away from, or purified free from, total genomic nucleic acids of A. thaliana. Included within the term “nucleic acid segment”, are nucleic acid segments and smaller fragments of such segments, and also recombinant vectors, including, for example, BACs, YACs, plasmids, cosmids, phage, viruses, and the like.

Similarly, a nucleic acid segment comprising an isolated or purified centromeric sequence refers to a nucleic acid segment including centromere sequences and, in certain aspects, regulatory sequences, isolated substantially away from other naturally occurring sequences, or other nucleic acid sequences. In this respect, the term “gene” is used for simplicity to refer to a functional nucleic acid segment, protein, polypeptide or peptide encoding unit. As will be understood by those in the art, this functional term includes both genomic sequences, cDNA sequences and smaller engineered gene segments that may express, or may be adapted to express, proteins, polypeptides or peptides.

“Isolated substantially away from other sequences” means that the sequences of interest, in this case centromere sequences, are included within the genomic nucleic acid clones provided herein. Of course, this refers to the nucleic acid segment as originally isolated, and does not exclude genes or coding regions later added to the segment by the hand of man.

In particular embodiments, the invention concerns isolated nucleic acid segments and recombinant vectors incorporating nucleic acid sequences that encode a centromere functional sequence that includes a contiguous sequence from the centromeres of the current invention. In certain other embodiments, the invention concerns isolated nucleic acid segments and recombinant vectors that include within their sequence a contiguous nucleic acid sequence from an A. thaliana centromere. Again, nucleic acid segments that exhibit centromere function activity will be most preferred.

The nucleic acid segments of the present invention, regardless of the length of the sequence itself, may be combined with other nucleic acid sequences, such as promoters, polyadenylation signals, additional restriction enzyme sites, multiple cloning sites, other coding segments, and the like, such that their overall length may vary considerably. It is therefore contemplated that a nucleic acid fragment of almost any length may be employed, with the total length preferably being limited by the ease of preparation and use in the intended recombinant DNA protocol.

(i) Primers and Probes

In addition to their use in the construction of recombinant constructs, including minichromosomes, the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein may find a variety of other uses. For example, the centromere sequences described herein may find use as probes or primers in nucleic acid hybridization embodiments. As such, it is contemplated that nucleic acid segments that comprise a sequence region that consists of at least a 14 nucleotide long contiguous sequence that has the same sequence as, or is complementary to, a 14 nucleotide long contiguous DNA segment of a centromere sequence of the current invention, for example, of the sequences given by SEQ ID NOS:1-212, and particularly, SEQ ID NOS:1-21 and SEQ ID NOS:180-212, will find particular utility. Longer contiguous identical or complementary sequences, e.g., those of about 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 bp, etc., including all intermediate lengths and up to and including the full-length sequence of the sequences given in SEQ ID NOS:1-212, also will be of use in certain embodiments.

As described in detail herein, the ability of such nucleic acid probes to specifically hybridize to centromeric sequences will enable them to be of use in detecting the presence of similar, partially complementary sequences from other plants or animals. However, other uses are envisioned, including the use of the centromeres for the preparation of mutant species primers, or primers for use in preparing other genetic constructions.

Nucleic acid fragments having sequence regions consisting of contiguous nucleotide stretches of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 or even of 101-200 nucleotides or so, identical or complementary to a centromere sequence of the current invention, including the sequences given in SEQ ID NOS:1-212, are particularly contemplated as hybridization C) probes for use in, e.g., Southern and Northern blotting. Smaller fragments will generally find use in hybridization embodiments, wherein the length of the contiguous complementary region may be varied, such as between about 10-14 and about 100 or 200 nucleotides, but larger contiguous complementarity stretches also may be used, according to the length complementary sequences one wishes to detect.

Of course, fragments may also be obtained by other techniques such as, e.g., by mechanical shearing or by restriction enzyme digestion. Small nucleic acid segments or fragments may be readily prepared by, for example, directly synthesizing the fragment by chemical means, as is commonly practiced using an automated oligonucleotide synthesizer. Also, fragments may be obtained by application of nucleic acid reproduction technology, such as the PCR™ technology of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202 (each incorporated herein by reference), by introducing selected sequences into recombinant vectors for recombinant production, and by other recombinant DNA techniques generally known to those of skill in the art of molecular biology.

Accordingly, the centromere sequences of the current invention may be used for their ability to selectively form duplex molecules with complementary stretches of DNA fragments. Depending on the application envisioned, one will desire to employ varying conditions of hybridization to achieve varying degrees of selectivity of probe towards target sequence. For applications requiring high selectivity, one will typically desire to employ relatively stringent conditions to form the hybrids, e.g., one will select relatively low salt and/or high temperature conditions, such as provided by about 0.02 M to about 0.15 M NaCl at temperatures of about 50° C. to about 70° C. Such selective conditions tolerate little, if any, mismatch between the probe and the template or target strand, and would be particularly suitable for isolating centromeric DNA segments. Nucleic acid sequences hybridizing under these conditions and the conditions below to the nucleic acid sequences provided by the invention, including those given by SEQ ID NOS:1-212, form a part of the invention. Detection of nucleic acid segments via hybridization is well-known to those of skill in the art, and the teachings of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,965,188 and 5,176,995 (each specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) are exemplary of the methods of hybridization analyses. Teachings such as those found in the texts of Maloy et al., 1991; Segal, 1976; Prokop, 1991; and Kuby, 1994, are particularly relevant.

Of course, for some applications, for example, where one desires to prepare mutants employing a mutant primer strand hybridized to an underlying template or where one seeks to isolate centromere function-conferring sequences from related species, functional equivalents, or the like, less stringent hybridization conditions will typically be needed in order to allow formation of the heteroduplex. In these circumstances, one may desire to employ conditions such as about 0.15 M to about 0.9 M salt, at temperatures ranging from about 20° C. to about 55° C. Cross-hybridizing species can thereby be readily identified as positively hybridizing signals with respect to control hybridizations. In any case, it is generally appreciated that conditions can be rendered more stringent by the addition of increasing amounts of formamide, which serves to destabilize the hybrid duplex in the same manner as increased temperature or decreased salt. Thus, hybridization conditions can be readily manipulated, and thus will generally be a method of choice depending on the desired results.

In certain embodiments, it will be advantageous to employ nucleic acid sequences of the present invention in combination with an appropriate means, such as a label, for determining hybridization. A wide variety of appropriate indicator means are known in the art, including fluorescent, radioactive, enzymatic or other ligands, such as avidin/biotin, which are capable of giving a detectable signal. In preferred embodiments, one will likely desire to employ a fluorescent label or an enzyme tag, such as urease, alkaline phosphatase or peroxidase, instead of radioactive or other environmentally undesirable reagents. In the case of enzyme tags, colorimetric indicator substrates are known that can be employed to provide a means visible to the human eye or spectrophotometrically, to identify specific hybridization with complementary nucleic acid-containing samples.

In general, it is envisioned that the hybridization probes described herein will be useful both as reagents in solution hybridization as well as in embodiments employing a solid phase. In embodiments involving a solid phase, the test DNA (or RNA) is adsorbed or otherwise affixed to a selected matrix or surface. This fixed, single-stranded nucleic acid is then subjected to specific hybridization with selected probes under desired conditions. The selected conditions will depend on the particular circumstances based on the particular criteria required (depending, for example, on the G+C content, type of target nucleic acid, source of nucleic acid, size of hybridization probe, etc.). Following washing of the hybridized surface so as to remove nonspecifically bound probe molecules, specific hybridization is detected, or even quantitated, by means of the label.

(ii) Large Nucleic Acid Segments

Using the markers flanking each centromere (see FIG. 3) it may be possible to purify a contiguous DNA fragment that contains both flanking markers and the centromere encoded between those markers. In order to carry this out, very large DNA fragments up to the size of an entire chromosome are prepared by embedding Arabidopsis tissues in agarose using, for example, the method described by Copenhaver et al., (1995). These large pieces of DNA can be digested in the agarose with any restriction enzyme. Those restriction enzymes which will be particularly useful for isolating intact centromeres include enzymes which yield very large DNA fragments. Such restriction enzymes include those with specificities greater than six base pairs such as, for example, Asc I, Bae I, BbvC I, Fse I, Not I, Pac I, Pme I, PpuM I, Rsr II, SanD I, Sap L, SexA I, Sfi I, Sgf I, SgrA L Sbf I, Srf I, Sse8387 I, Sse8647 I, Swa, UbaD I, and UbaE I, or any other enzyme that cuts at a low frequency within the Arabidopsis genome, and specifically within the centromeric region. Alternatively, a partial digest with a more frequent cutting restriction enzyme could be used.

Alternatively, large DNA fragments spanning some or all of a centromere could be produced using RecA-Assisted Restriction Endonuclease (RARE) cleavage (Ferrin, 1991). In order to carry this out, very large DNA fragments up to the size of an entire chromosome are prepared by embedding Arabidopsis tissues in agarose using, for example, the method described by Copenhaver et al., (1995). Single stranded DNA oligomers with sequences homologous to sites flanking the region of DNA to be purified are made to form triple stranded complexes with the agarose embedded DNA using the recombinase enzyme RecA. The DNA is then treated with a site specific methylase such as, for example, Alu I methylase, BamH I methylase, dam methylase, EcoR I methylase, Hae III methylase, Hha I methylase, Hpa II methylase, or Msp methylase. The methylase will modify all the sites specified by its recognition sequence except those within the triplex region protected by the RecA/DNA oligomer complex. The RecA/DNA oligomer complex are then removed from the agarose embedded DNA and the DNA is then cleaved with the restriction enzyme corresponding to the methylase used, for example, if EcoRI methylase was used then EcoRI restriction endonuclease would be used to perform the cleavage. Only those sites protected from modification will be subject to cleavage by the restriction endonuclease. Thus by choosing targets flanking the centromeric regions that contain the recognition sequence of a site specific methylase/restriction endonuclease pair RARE can be used to cleave the entire region from the rest of the chromosome. It is important to note that this method can be used to isolate a DNA fragment of unknown composition by using sequence information flanking it. Thus, this method may be used to isolate the DNA contained within any gaps in the physical map for the centromeres. The DNA isolated by this method can then be sequenced.

The large DNA fragments produced by digestion with restriction enzymes or by RARE cleavage are then separated by size using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) (Schwartz et al., 1982). Specifically, Contour-clamped Homogeneous Electric Field (CHEF) electrophoresis (a variety of PFGE) can be used to separate DNA molecules as large as 10 Mb (Chu et al., 1985). Large DNA fragments resolved on CHEF gels can then be analyzed using standard Southern hybridization techniques to identify and measure the size of those fragments which contain both centromere flanking markers and therefor, the centromere. After determining the size of the centromere containing fragment by comparison with known size standards, the region from the gel that contains the centromere fragment can be cut out of a duplicate gel. This centromeric DNA can then be analyzed, sequenced, and used in a variety of applications, as described below, including the construction of minichromosomes. As indicated in detail below, minichromosomes can be constructed by attaching telomeres and selectable markers to the centromere fragment cut from the agarose gel using standard techniques which allow DNA ligation within the gel slice. Plant cells can then be transformed with this hybrid DNA molecule using the techniques described herein below.

IV. ##Recombinant Constructs Comprising Centromere Sequences ##

In light of the instant disclosure it will be possible for those of ordinary skill in the art to construct the recombinant DNA constructs described herein. Useful construction methods are well-known to those of skill in the art (see, for example, Maniatis et al., 1982). As constructed, the minichromosome will preferably include an autonomous replication sequence (ARS) functional in plants, a centromere functional in plants, and a telomere functional in plants.

The basic elements in addition to a plant centromere that may be used in constructing a minichromosome vector are known to those of skill in the art. For example, one type of telomere sequence that could be used is an Arabidopsis telomere, which consists of head to tail arrays of the monomer repeat CCCTAAA totaling a few (for example 34) kb in length. The telomeres of Arabidopsis, like those of other organisms, vary in length and do not appear to have a strict length requirement. An example of a cloned telomere can be found in GenBank accession number M20158 (Richards and Ausubel, 1988). Yeast telomere sequences have also been described (see, e.g., Louis, 1994; Genbank accession number S70807). Additionally, a method for isolating a higher eukaryotic telomere from Arabidopsis thaliana was described by Richards and Ausubel (1988).

It is commonly believed that higher eukaryotes do not posses a specific sequence that is used as a replication origin, but instead replicate their DNA from random sites distributed along the chromosome. In Arabidopsis, it is thought that the cell will form origins of replications about once every 70 kb (Van't Hof, 1978). Thus, because higher eukaryotes have origins of replication at potentially random positions on each chromosome, it is not possible to describe a specific origin sequence, but it may generally be assumed that a segment of plant DNA of a sufficient size will be recognized by the cell and origins will be generated on the construct. For example, any piece of Arabidopsis genomic DNA larger than 70 kb would be expected to contain an ARS. By including such a segment of DNA on a recombinant vector, ARS function may be provided to the vector. Additionally, many S. cerevisiae autonomous replicating sequences have been sequenced and could be used to fulfill the ARS function. One example is the Saccharomyces cerevisiae autonomously replicating sequence ARS131A (GenBank number L25319). Many origins of replications have been also been sequenced and cloned from E. coli and could be used with the invention, for example, the Col E1 origin of replication (Ohmori and Tomizawa, 1979; GenBank number V00270). One Agrobacterium origin that could be used is RiA4. The localization of origins of replication in the plasmids of Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4 was describe by Jouanin et al. (1985).

(i) Considerations in the Preparation of Recombinant Constructs

In addition to the basic elements, positive or negative selectable plant markers (e.g., antibiotic or herbicide resistance genes), and a cloning site for insertion of foreign DNA may be included. In addition, a visible marker, such as green fluorescent protein, also may be desirable. In order to propagate the vectors in E. coli, it is necessary to convert the linear molecule into a circle by addition of a stuffer fragment between the telomeres. Inclusion of an E. coli plasmid replication origin and selectable marker also may be preferred. It also may be desirable to include Agrobacterium sequences to improve replication and transfer to plant cells. The inventors have described a number of exemplary minichromosome constructs in FIGS. 7A-7H, although it will be apparent to those in skill art that many changes may be made in the order and types of elements present in these constructs and still obtain a functional minichromosome within the scope of the instant invention.

Artificial plant chromosomes which replicate in yeast also may be constructed to take advantage of the large insert capacity and stability of repetitive DNA inserts afforded by this system (see Burke et al., 1987). In this case, yeast ARS and CEN sequences may be added to the vector. The artificial chromosome is maintained in yeast as a circular molecule using a stuffer fragment to separate the telomeres.

A fragment of DNA, from any source whatsoever, may be purified and inserted into a minichromosome at any appropriate restriction endonuclease cleavage site. The DNA segment usually will include various regulatory signals for the expression of proteins encoded by the fragment. Alternatively, regulatory signals resident in the minichromosome may be utilized.

The techniques and procedures required to accomplish insertion are well-known in the art (see Maniatis et al., 1982). Typically, this is accomplished by incubating a circular plasmid or a linear DNA fragment in the presence of a restriction endonuclease such that the restriction endonuclease cleaves the DNA molecule. Endonucleases preferentially break the internal phosphodiester bonds of polynucleotide chains. They may be relatively unspecific, cutting polynucleotide bonds regardless of the surrounding nucleotide sequence. However, the endonucleases which cleave only a specific nucleotide sequence are called restriction enzymes. Restriction endonucleases generally internally cleave DNA molecules at specific recognition sites, making breaks within “recognition” sequences that in many, but not all, cases exhibit two-fold symmetry around a given point. Such enzymes typically create double-stranded breaks.

Many of these enzymes make a staggered cleavage, yielding DNA fragments with protruding single-stranded 5′ or 3′ termini. Such ends are said to be “sticky” or “cohesive” because they will hydrogen bond to complementary 3′ or 5′ ends. As a result, the end of any DNA fragment produced by an enzyme, such as EcoRI, can anneal with any other fragment produced by that enzyme. This properly allows splicing of foreign genes into plasmids, for example. Some restriction endonucleases that may be particularly useful with the current invention include HindIII, PstI, EcoRI, and BamHI.

Some endonucleases create fragments that have blunt ends, that is, that lack any protruding single strands. An alternative way to create blunt ends is to use a restriction enzyme that leaves overhangs, but to fill in the overhangs with a polymerase, such as klenow, thereby resulting in blunt ends. When DNA has been cleaved with restriction enzymes that cut across both strands at the same position, blunt end ligation can be used to join the fragments directly together. The advantage of this technique is that any pair of ends may be joined together, irrespective of sequence.

Those nucleases that preferentially break off terminal nucleotides are referred to as exonucleases. For example, small deletions can be produced in any DNA molecule by treatment with an exonuclease which starts from each 3′ end of the DNA and chews away single strands in a 3′ to 5′ direction, creating a population of DNA molecules with single-stranded fragments at each end, some containing terminal nucleotides. Similarly, exonucleases that digest DNA from the 5′ end or enzymes that remove nucleotides from both strands have often been used. Some exonucleases which may be particularly useful in the present invention include Bal31, SI, and ExoIII. These nucleolytic reactions can be controlled by varying the time of incubation, the temperature, and the enzyme concentration needed to make deletions. Phosphatases and kinases also may be used to control which fragments have ends which can be joined. Examples of useful phosphatases include shrimp alkaline phosphatase and calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. An example of a useful kinase is T4 polynucleotide kinase.

Once the source DNA sequences and vector sequences have been cleaved and modified to generate appropriate ends they are incubated together with enzymes capable of mediating the ligation of the two DNA molecules. Particularly useful enzymes for this purpose include T4 ligase, E. coli ligase, or other similar enzymes. The action of these enzymes results in the sealing of the linear DNA to produce a larger DNA molecule containing the desired fragment (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,237,224; 4,264,731; 4,273,875; 4,322,499 and 4,336,336, which are specifically incorporated herein by reference).

It is to be understood that the termini of the linearized plasmid and the termini of the DNA fragment being inserted must be complementary or blunt in order for the ligation reaction to be successful. Suitable complementarity can be achieved by choosing appropriate restriction endonucleases (i.e., if the fragment is produced by the same restriction endonuclease or one that generates the same overhang as that used to linearize the plasmid, then the termini of both molecules will be complementary). As discussed previously, in one embodiment of the invention, at least two classes of the vectors used in the present invention are adapted to receive the foreign oligonucleotide fragments in only one orientation. After joining the DNA segment to the vector, the resulting hybrid DNA can then be selected from among the large population of clones or libraries.

A method useful for the molecular cloning of DNA sequences includes in vitro joining of DNA segments, fragmented from a source of high molecular weight genomic DNA, to vector DNA molecules capable of independent replication. The cloning vector may include plasmid DNA (see Cohen et al., 1973), phage DNA (see Thomas et al., 1974), SV40 DNA (see Nussbaum et al., 1976), yeast DNA, E. coli DNA and most significantly, plant DNA.

A variety of processes are known which may be utilized to effect transformation; i.e., the inserting of a heterologous DNA sequences into a host cell, whereby the host becomes capable of efficient expression of the inserted sequences.

(ii) Regulator Elements

In one embodiment of the invention, constructs may include a plant promoter, for example, the CaMV 35S promoter (Odell et al., 1985), or others such as CaMV 19S (Lawton et al., 1987), nos (Ebert et al., 1987), Adh (Walker et al., 1987), sucrose synthase (Yang & Russell, 1990), a-tubulin, actin (Wang et al., 1992), cab (Sullivan et al., 1989), PEPCase (Hudspeth & Grula, 1989) or those associated with the R gene complex (Chandler et al., 1989). Tissue specific promoters such as root cell promoters (Conkling et al., 1990) and tissue specific enhancers (Fromm et al., 1989) are also contemplated to be useful, as are inducible promoters such as ABA- and turgor-inducible promoters. In particular embodiments of the invention, a Lat52 promoter may be used (Twell et al., 1991). A particularly useful tissue specific promoter is the SCARECROW (Scr) root-specific promoter (DiLaurenzio et al., 1996).

As the DNA sequence between the transcription initiation site and the start of the coding sequence, i.e., the untranslated leader sequence, can influence gene expression. Therefore, one may also wish to employ a particular leader sequence.

It is envisioned that a functional gene could be introduced under the control of novel promoters or enhancers, etc., or perhaps even homologous or tissue specific (for example, root-, collar/sheath-, whorl-, stalk-, earshank-, kernel- or leaf-specific) promoters or control elements. In particular embodiments of the invention, the functional gene may be in an antisense orientation relative to the promoter.

(ii) Terminators

It may also be desirable to link a functional gene to a 3′ end DNA sequence that acts as a signal to terminate transcription and allow for the poly-adenylation of the mRNA produced by coding sequences. Such a terminator may be the native terminator of the a functional gene or, alternatively, may be a heterologous 3′ end. Examples of terminators that could be used with the invention are those from the nopaline synthase gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (nos 3′ end) (Bevan et al., 1983), the terminator for the T7 transcript from the octopine synthase gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and the 3′ end of the protease inhibitor I or II genes from potato or tomato.

(iii) Marker Genes

It may be desirable to use one or more marker genes in accordance with the invention. Such markers may be adapted for use in prokaryotic, lower eukaryotic or higher eukaryotic systems, or may be capable of use in any combination of the foregoing classes of organisms. By employing a selectable or screenable marker protein, one can provide or enhance the ability to identify transformants. “Marker genes” are genes that impart a distinct phenotype to cells expressing the marker protein and thus allow such transformed cells to be distinguished from cells that do not have the marker. Such genes may encode either a selectable or screenable marker, depending on whether the marker confers a trait which one can “select” for by chemical means, i.e., through the use of a selective agent (e.g., a herbicide, antibiotic, or the like), or whether it is simply a trait that one can identify through observation or testing, i.e., by “screening” (e.g., the green fluorescent protein). Of course, many examples of suitable marker proteins are known to the art and can be employed in the practice of the invention.

Included within the terms selectable or screenable markers also are genes which encode a “secretable marker” whose secretion can be detected as a means of identifying or selecting for transformed cells. Examples include markers which are secretable antigens that can be identified by antibody interaction, or even secretable enzymes which can be detected by their catalytic activity. Secretable proteins fall into a number of classes, including small, diffusible proteins detectable, e.g., by ELISA; small active enzymes detectable in extracellular solution (e.g., α-amylase, β-lactamase, phosphinothricin acetyltransferase); and proteins that are inserted or trapped in the cell wall (e.g., proteins that include a leader sequence such as that found in the expression unit of extensin or tobacco PR-S).

With regard to selectable secretable markers, the use of a gene that encodes a protein that becomes sequestered in the cell wall, and which protein includes a unique epitope is considered to be particularly advantageous. Such a secreted antigen marker would ideally employ an epitope sequence that would provide low background in plant tissue, a promoter-leader sequence that would impart efficient expression and targeting across the plasma membrane, and would produce protein that is bound in the cell wall and yet accessible to antibodies. A normally secreted wall protein modified to include a unique epitope would satisfy all such requirements.

1. Selectable Markers

Many selectable marker genes may be used in accordance with invention including, but not limited to, neo (Potrykus et al., 1985), which provides kanamycin resistance and can be selected for using kanamycin, G418, paromomycin, etc.; bar, which confers bialaphos or phosphinothricin resistance; a mutant EPSP synthase protein (Hinchee et al., 1988) conferring glyphosate resistance; a nitrilase such as bxn from Klebsiella ozaenae which confers resistance to bromoxynil (Stalker et al., 1988); a mutant acetolactate synthase (ALS) which confers resistance to imidazolinone, sulfonylurea or other ALS inhibiting chemicals (European Patent Application 154,204, 1985); a methotrexate resistant DHFR (Thillet et al., 1988), a dalapon dehalogenase that confers resistance to the herbicide dalapon; or a mutated anthranilate synthase that confers resistance to 5-methyl tryptophan. Where a mutant EPSP synthase is employed, additional benefit may be realized through the incorporation of a suitable chloroplast transit peptide, CTP (U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,642) or OTP (U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,448) and use of a modified maize EPSPS (PCT Application WO 97/04103).

An illustrative embodiment of selectable marker capable of being used in systems to select transformants are those that encode the enzyme phosphinothricin acetyltransferase, such as the bar gene from Streptomyces hygroscopicus or the pat gene from Streptomyces viridochromogenes. The enzyme phosphinothricin acetyl transferase C) (PAT) inactivates the active ingredient in the herbicide bialaphos, phosphinothricin (PPT). PPT inhibits glutamine synthetase, (Murakami et al., 1986; Twell et al., 1989) causing rapid accumulation of ammonia and cell death. The use of bar as a selectable marker gene and for the production of herbicide-resistant rice plants from protoplasts was described by Rathore et al., (1993).

A number of S. cerevisiae marker genes are also known and could be used with the invention, such as, for example, the HIS4 gene (Donahue et al., 1982; GenBank number J01331). An example of an E. coli marker gene which has been cloned and sequenced and could be used in accordance with the invention is the Ap gene, which confers resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics such as ampacillin (nucleotides 4618 to 5478 of GenBank accession number U66885).

2. Screenable Markers

Screenable markers that may be employed include a β-glucuronidase (GUS) or uidA gene which encodes an enzyme for which various chromogenic substrates are known; an R-locus gene, which encodes a product that regulates the production of anthocyanin pigments (red color) in plant tissues (Dellaporta et al., 1988); a β-lactamase gene (Sutcliffe, 1978), which encodes an enzyme for which various chromogenic substrates are known (e.g., PADAC, a chromogenic cephalosporin); a xylE gene (Zukowsky et al., 1983) which encodes a catechol dioxygenase that can convert chromogenic catechols; an α-amylase gene (Ikuta et al., 1990); a tyrosinase gene (Katz et al., 1983) which encodes an enzyme capable of oxidizing tyrosine to DOPA and dopaquinone which in turn condenses to form the easily-detectable compound melanin; a β-galactosidase gene, which encodes an enzyme for which there are chromogenic substrates; a luciferase (lux) gene (Ow et al., 1986), which allows for bioluminescence detection; an aequorin gene (Prasher et al., 1985) which may be employed in calcium-sensitive bioluminescence detection; or a gene encoding for green fluorescent protein (Sheen et al., 1995; Haseloff et al., 1997; Reichel et al., 1996; Tian et al., 1997; WO 97/41228).

Genes from the maize R gene complex can also be used as screenable markers. The R gene complex in maize encodes a protein that acts to regulate the production of anthocyanin pigments in most seed and plant tissue. Maize strains can have one, or as many as four, R alleles which combine to regulate pigmentation in a developmental and tissue specific manner. Thus, an R gene introduced into such cells will cause the expression of a red pigment and, if stably incorporated, can be visually scored as a red sector. If a maize line carries dominant alleles for genes encoding for the enzymatic intermediates in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway (C2, A1, A2, Bz1 and Bz2), but carries a recessive allele at the R locus, transformation of any cell from that line with R will result in red pigment formation. Exemplary lines include Wisconsin 22 which contains the rg-Stadler allele and TR112, a K55 derivative which is r-g, b, Pl. Alternatively, any genotype of maize can be utilized if the C1 and R alleles are introduced together.

Another screenable marker contemplated for use in the present invention is firefly luciferase, encoded by the lux gene. The presence of the lux gene in transformed cells may be detected using, for example. X-ray film, scintillation counting, fluorescent spectrophotometry, low-light video cameras, photon counting cameras or multiwell luminometry. It also is envisioned that this system may be developed for populational screening for bioluminescence, such as on tissue culture plates, or even for whole plant screening. The gene which encodes green fluorescent protein (GFP) is contemplated as a particularly useful reporter gene (Sheen et al., 1995; Haseloff et al., 1997; Reichel et al., 1996; Tian et al., 1997; WO 97/41228). Expression of green fluorescent protein may be visualized in a cell or plant as fluorescence following illumination by particular wavelengths of light.

3. Negative Selectable Markers

Introduction of genes encoding traits that can be selected against may be useful for eliminating minichromosomes from a cell or for selecting against cells which comprise a particular minichromosome. An example of a negative selectable marker which has been investigated is the enzyme cytosine deaminase (Stouggard, 1993). In the presence of this enzyme the compound 5-fluorocytosine is converted to 5-fluorouracil which is toxic to plant and animal cells. Therefore, cells comprising a minichromosome with this gene could be directly selected against. Other genes that encode proteins that render the plant sensitive to a certain compound will also be useful in this context. For example, T-DNA gene 2 from Agrobacterium tumefaciens encodes a protein that catalyzes the conversion of α-naphthalene acetamide (NAM) to α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) renders plant cells sensitive to high concentrations of NAM (Depicker et al., 1988).

V. Isolation of Centromeres from Plants

The inventors have provided, for the first time, the nucleic acid sequence of a plant centromere. This will allow one of skill in the art to obtain centromere sequences from potentially any species. The inventors specifically provide herein below a number of methods which may be employed to isolate such centromeres.

(i) Utilization of Conserved Sequences

Numerous of the centromere sequences identified by the inventors were also shown by the inventors to be highly conserved (see e.g., Example 5B, Table 3, and Table 4). The novel finding of the inventors that a number of genes reside within the Arabidopsis centromere can therefore be used to find syntenic genes in other organisms (i.e., evolutionarily conserved relationships in gene order from species to species). For example, the sequence of each Arabidopsis gene can be used to search through sequence databases from other plants. An exemplary list of such sequences that could be used is a sequence given by SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ED NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ED NO:20, and SEQ ID NO:21. Also useful would be the genes listed in Tables 3 and 4. Finding identical or similar genes would identify candidates that may reside within or near centromeric regions. Mapping these genes using linked markers would identify potential centromeric regions.

Where hybridization is used to obtain centromere sequences, it may be desirable to use less stringent hybridization conditions to allow formation of a heteroduplex. In these circumstances, one may desire to employ conditions such as about 0.15 M to about 0.9 M salt, at temperatures ranging from about 20° C. to about 55° C. Cross-hybridizing species can thereby be readily identified as positively hybridizing signals with respect to control hybridizations. In any case, it is generally appreciated that conditions can be rendered more stringent by the addition of increasing amounts of formamide, which serves to destabilize the hybrid duplex in the same manner as increased temperature or decreased salt. Thus, hybridization conditions can be readily manipulated, and thus will generally be a method of choice depending on the desired results.

(ii) Identification of Centromere-Associated Characteristics

The second method takes advantage of the unique DNA properties that the inventors have discovered at the Arabidopsis centromere and adjacent pericentromere regions. The centromeres are composed of long arrays of 180 bp repeats flanked by regions that are 10-70% retroelements, up to 15% pseudogenes and up to 29% transposons (see FIGS. 12A-T). This is unique to the centromere since retroelements, transposons and pseudogenes are very rare outside the centromere and pericentromere region. Furthermore, gene density decreases from an average of a gene every 4.5 kb on the chromosomal arm down to one in 150 kb at the centromere. This unique centromere composition could be exploited in a number of ways to find centromere regions in other species, for example:

1) Markers specific for retroelements, transposons, repeat DNA elements and pseudogenes can be devised to genetically map regions which are dense with similar elements.

2) The second method involves in situ hybridization, and preferably, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Fluorescently labeled DNA probes consisting of retroelements, transposons and/or repetitive DNA native to a particular species can be combined with microscopy to identify parts of a chromosome with a similar percentage of DNA elements as that found at the Arabidopsis centromere.

3) Utilizing sequence databases, regions of genomes that have increased numbers of repetitive DNA, pseudogenes, retroelements and transposons, similar to the composition of Arabidopsis identified by the inventors, can be used to identify regions of an organisms' chromosome that are centromeric.

(iii) Utilization of Centromere-Associated Proteins

The third method involves immunoprecipitating known centromere proteins or kinetochore proteins and analyzing bound DNA. Antibodies specific to centromere proteins can be incubated with proteins extracted from cells. Extracts can be native or previously treated to cross-link DNA to proteins. The antibodies and bound proteins can be purified away from the protein extracts and the DNA isolated. The DNA can then be used as a probe for FISH (as talked about above) or to probe libraries to find neighboring centromere sequences.

1. Centromere-Associated Protein Specific Antibodies

By identifying, for the first time, centromere-associated genes, the inventors have enabled the production of antibodies to the proteins encoded by such centromere-associated genes. The antibodies may be either monoclonal or polyclonal which bind to centromere-associated proteins of the current invention. The centromere-associated protein targets of the antibodies, include proteins which bind to the centromere region. Further, it is specifically contemplated that these centromere-associated protein specific antibodies would allow for the further isolation and characterization of the centromere-associated proteins. For example, proteins may be isolated which are encoded by the centromeres. Recombinant production of such proteins provides a source of antigen for production of antibodies.

Alternatively, the centromere may be used as a ligand to isolate, using affinity methods, centromere binding proteins. Once isolated, these protein can be used as antigens for the production polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. A variation on this technique has been demonstrated by Rattner (1991), by cloning of centromere-associated proteins through the use of antibodies which bind in the vicinity of the centromere.

Means for preparing and characterizing antibodies are well known in the art (see, e.g., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988; incorporated herein by reference). The methods for generating monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generally begin along the same lines as those for preparing polyclonal antibodies. Briefly, a polyclonal antibody is prepared by immunizing an animal with an immunogenic composition in accordance with the present invention and collecting antisera from that immunized animal. A wide range of animal species can be used for the production of antisera. Typically the animal used for production of antisera is a rabbit, a mouse, a rat, a hamster, a guinea pig or a goat. A rabbit is a preferred choice for production of polyclonal antibodies because of the ease of handling, maintenance and relatively large blood volume.

As is well known in the art, a given composition may vary in its immunogenicity. It is often necessary therefore to boost the host immune system, as may be achieved by coupling a peptide or polypeptide immunogen to a carrier. Exemplary and preferred carriers are keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Other albumins such as ovalbumin, mouse serum albumin or rabbit serum albumin also can be used as carriers. Means for conjugating a polypeptide to a carrier protein are well known in the art and include glutaraldehyde, m-maleimidobencoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, carbodimide and bis-biazotized benzidine.

As is also well known in the art, the immunogenicity of a particular immunogen composition can be enhanced by the use of non-specific stimulators of the immune response, known as adjuvants. Exemplary and preferred adjuvants include complete Freund's adjuvant (a non-specific stimulator of the immune response containing killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis), incomplete Freund's adjuvants and aluminum hydroxide adjuvant.

The amount of immunogen composition used in the production of polyclonal antibodies varies upon the nature of the immunogen as well as the animal used for immunization. A variety of routes can be used to administer the immunogen (subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, intravenous and intraperitoneal). The production of polyclonal antibodies may be monitored by sampling blood of the immunized animal at various points following immunization. A second, booster, injection also may be given. The process of boosting and titering is repeated until a suitable titer is achieved. When a desired level of immunogenicity is obtained, the immunized animal can be bled and the serum isolated and stored, and/or the animal can be used to generate mAbs.

Monoclonal antibodies may be readily prepared through use of well-known techniques, such as those exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,265, incorporated herein by reference. Typically, this technique involves immunizing a suitable animal with a selected immunogen composition, e.g., a purified or partially purified minichromosome -associated protein, polypeptide or peptide. The immunizing composition is administered in a manner effective to stimulate antibody producing cells. Rodents such as mice and rats are preferred animals, however, the use of rabbit, sheep, or frog cells also is possible. The use of rats may provide certain advantages (Goding 1986), but mice are preferred, by with the BALB/c mouse being most preferred as this is most routinely used and generally gives a higher percentage of stable fusions.

Following immunization, somatic cells with the potential for producing antibodies, specifically B lymphocytes (B cells), are selected for use in the mAb generating protocol. These cells may be obtained from biopsied spleens, tonsils or lymph nodes, or from a peripheral blood sample. Spleen cells and peripheral blood cells are preferred, the former because they are a rich source of antibody-producing cells that are in the dividing plasmablast stage, and the latter because peripheral blood is easily accessible. Often, a panel of animals will have been immunized and the spleen of animal with the highest antibody titer will be removed and the spleen lymphocytes obtained by homogenizing the spleen with a syringe. Typically, a spleen from an immunized mouse contains approximately 5×10⁷ to 2×10⁸ lymphocytes.

The antibody-producing B lymphocytes from the immunized animal are then fused with cells of an immortal myeloma cell, generally one of the same species as the animal that was immunized. Myeloma cell lines suited for use in hybridoma-producing fusion procedures preferably are non-antibody-producing, have high fusion efficiency, and enzyme deficiencies that render them incapable of growing in certain selective media which support the growth of only the desired fused cells (hybridomas).

Any one of a number of myeloma cells may be used, as are known to those of skill in the art (Goding 1986; Campbell 1984). For example, where the immunized animal is a mouse, one may use P3-X63/Ag8, X63-Ag8.653, NS1/1.Ag 4 1, Sp210-Ag14, FO, NSO/U, MPC-11, MPC11-X45-GTG 1.7 and S194/5XX0 Bul; for rats, one may use R210.RCY3, Y3-Ag 1.2.3, IR983F and 4B210; and U-266, GM1500-GRG2, LICR-LON-HMy2 and UC729-6 are all useful in connection with human cell fusions.

One preferred murine myeloma cell is the NS-1 myeloma cell line (also termed P3-NS-1-Ag4-1), which is readily available from the NIGMS Human Genetic Mutant Cell Repository by requesting cell line repository number GM3573. Another mouse myeloma cell line that may be used is the 8-azaguanine-resistant mouse murine myeloma SP2/0 non-producer cell line.

Methods for generating hybrids of antibody-producing spleen or lymph node cells and myeloma cells usually comprise mixing somatic cells with myeloma cells in a 2:1 ratio, though the ratio may vary from about 20:1 to about 1:1, respectively, in the presence of an agent or agents (chemical or electrical) that promote the fusion of cell membranes. Fusion methods using Sendai virus have been described (Kohler et al., 1975; 1976), and those using polyethylene glycol (PEG), such as 37% (v/v) PEG, (Gefter et al., 1977). The use of electrically induced fusion methods also is appropriate (Goding 1986).

Fusion procedures usually produce viable hybrids at low frequencies, about 1×10⁴ to 1×10⁻⁸. However, this does not pose a problem, as the viable, fused hybrids are differentiated from the parental, unfused cells (particularly the unfused myeloma cells that would normally continue to divide indefinitely) by culturing in a selective medium. The selective medium is generally one that contains an agent that blocks the de novo synthesis of nucleotides in the tissue culture media Exemplary and preferred agents are aminopterin, methotrexate, and azaserine. Aminopterin and methotrexate block de novo synthesis of both purines and pyrimidines, whereas azaserine blocks only purine synthesis. Where aminopterin or methotrexate is used, the media is supplemented with hypoxanthine and thymidine as a source of nucleotides (HAT medium). Where azaserine is used, the media is supplemented with hypoxanthine.

The preferred selection medium is HAT. Only cells capable of operating nucleotide salvage pathways are able to survive in HAT medium. The myeloma cells are defective in key enzymes of the salvage pathway, e.g., hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT), and they cannot survive. The B-cells can operate this pathway, but they have a limited life span in culture and generally die within about two weeks. Therefore, the only cells that can survive in the selective media are those hybrids formed from myeloma and B-cells.

This culturing provides a population of hybridomas from which specific hybridomas are selected. Typically, selection of hybridomas is performed by culturing the cells by single-clone dilution in microtiter plates, followed by testing the individual clonal supernatants (after about two to three weeks) for the desired reactivity. The assay should be sensitive, simple and rapid, such as radioimmunoassays, enzyme immunoassays, cytotoxicity assays, plaque assays, dot immunobinding assays, and the like.

The selected hybridomas would then be serially diluted and cloned into individual antibody-producing cell lines, which clones can then be propagated indefinitely to provide mAbs. The cell lines may be exploited for mAb production in two basic ways. A sample of the hybridoma can be injected (often into the peritoneal cavity) into a histocompatible animal of the type that was used to provide the somatic and myeloma cells for the original fusion. The injected animal develops tumors secreting the specific monoclonal antibody produced by the fused cell hybrid. The body fluids of the animal, such as serum or ascites fluid, can then be tapped to provide mAbs in high concentration. The individual cell lines also could be cultured in vitro, where the mAbs are naturally secreted into the culture medium from which they can be readily obtained in high concentrations. mAbs produced by either means may be further purified, if desired, using filtration, centrifugation and various chromatographic methods such as HPLC or affinity chromatography.

2. ELISAs and Immunoprecipitation

ELISAs may be used in conjunction with the invention, for example, in identifying expression of a centromere-associated protein in a candidate centromere sequence. Such an assay could thereby facilitate the isolation of centromeres from species other than Arabidopsis. By identifying conserved, centromere-associated coding sequences, the inventors have provided the essential tools for such a screen.

In an ELISA assay, proteins or peptides comprising minichromosome-encoded protein antigen sequences are immobilized onto a selected surface, preferably a surface exhibiting a protein affinity such as the wells of a polystyrene microtiter plate. After washing to remove incompletely adsorbed material, it is desirable to bind or coat the assay plate wells with a nonspecific protein that is known to be antigenically neutral with regard to the test antisera such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), casein or solutions of milk powder. This allows for blocking of nonspecific adsorption sites on the immobilizing surface and thus reduces the background caused by nonspecific binding of antisera onto the surface.

After binding of antigenic material to the well, coating with a non-reactive material to reduce background, and washing to remove unbound material, the immobilizing surface is contacted with the antisera or clinical or biological extract to be tested in a manner conducive to immune complex (antigen/antibody) formation. Such conditions preferably include diluting the antisera with diluents such as BSA, bovine gamma globulin (BGG) and phosphate buffered saline (PBS)/Tween®. These added agents also tend to assist in the reduction of nonspecific background. The layered antisera is then allowed to incubate for from about 2 to about 4 hours, at temperatures preferably on the order of about 25° to about 27° C. Following incubation, the antisera-contacted surface is washed so as to remove non-immunocomplexed material. A preferred washing procedure includes washing with a solution such as PBS/Tween®, or borate buffer.

Following formation of specific immunocomplexes between the test sample and the bound antigen, and subsequent washing, the occurrence and even amount of immunocomplex formation may be determined by subjecting same to a second antibody having specificity for the first. To provide a detecting means, the second antibody will preferably have an associated enzyme that will generate color or light development upon incubating with an appropriate chromogenic substrate. Thus, for example, one will desire to contact and incubate the antisera-bound surface with a urease or peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgG for a period of time and under conditions which favor the development of immunocomplex formation (e.g., incubation for 2 hours at room temperature in a PBS-containing solution).

After incubation with the second enzyme-tagged antibody, and subsequent to washing to remove unbound material, the amount of label is quantified by incubation with a chromogenic substrate such as urea and bromocresol purple or 2,2′-azino-di-(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and H₂O₂, in the case of peroxidase as the enzyme label. Quantitation is then achieved by measuring the degree of color generation, e.g., using a visible spectra spectrophotometer.

3. Western Blots

Centromere-associated antibodies may find use in immunoblot or western blot analysis, for example, for the identification of proteins immobilized onto a solid support matrix, such as nitrocellulose, nylon or combinations thereof. In conjunction with immunoprecipitation, followed by gel electrophoresis, these may be used as a single step reagent for use in detecting antigens against which secondary reagents used in the detection of the antigen cause an adverse background. This is especially useful when the antigens studied are immunoglobulins (precluding the use of immunoglobulins binding bacterial cell wall components), the antigens studied cross-react with the detecting agent, or they migrate at the same relative molecular weight as a cross-reacting signal.

Immunologically-based detection methods for use in conjunction with Western W blotting include enzymatically-, radiolabel-, or fluorescently-tagged secondary antibodies against the protein moiety are considered to be of particular use in this regard.

(iv) Genetic Mapping Based Approaches

The genetic mapping techniques outlined here for the identification of centromeres in Arabidopsis may find use in other species. In one aspect, this may comprise actual use of the mapping data provided herein, based on synteny between Arabidopsis chromosomes and those of other species. Further, new mapping data may be obtained using the techniques described herein. For example, in any plant that makes tetrads, the detailed methodology described herein for tetrad analysis could be used for the isolation of centromeres. Briefly, tetrad analysis measures the recombination frequency between genetic makers and a centromere by analyzing all four products of individual meiosis. A particular advantage arises from the quartet (qrt 1) mutation in Arabidopsis, which causes the four products of pollen mother cell meiosis in Arabidopsis to remain attached.

Several naturally occurring plant species in addition to Arabidopsis are known to release pollen clusters, including water lilies, cattails, heath (Ericaceae and Epacridceae), evening primrose (Onagraceae), sundews (Droseraceae), orchids (Orchidaceae), and acacias (Mimosaceae) (Preuss 1994, Smyth 1994). However, none of these species has been developed into an experimental system, limiting their use for genetic analysis. However, it is contemplated by the inventors that the cloning and introduction of the quartet mutation, or an antisense copy of a non-mutated Quartet gene, could allow the use of tetrad analysis in potentially any species.

Southern genomic DNA blots in combination with RFLP analysis may be used to map centromeres with a high degree of resolution. The stored seedling tissue provides the necessary amount of DNA for analysis of the restriction fragments. Southern blots are hybridized to probes labeled by radioactive or non-radioactive methods.

It may, in many cases, be desired to identify new polymorphic DNA markers which are closely linked to the target region. In some cases this can be readily done. For example, in many plant genomes, a polymorphic Sau3A site can be found for about every 8 to 0.20 kB surveyed. Subtractive methods are available for identifying such polymorphisms (Rosenberg et al., 1994), and these subtractions may be performed using DNA from selected, centromeric YAC or BAC clones. Screens for RFLP markers potentially linked to centromeres also can be performed using DNA fragments from a centromere-linked YAC clone to probe blots of genomic DNA from a target organism that has been digested with a panel of restriction enzymes.

To be certain that an entire centromeric region has been cloned, clones or a series of clones, are identified that hybridize to markers on either side of each centromere. These efforts can be complicated by the presence of repetitive DNA in the centromere, as well as by the potential instability of centromere clones. Thus, identification of large clones with unique sequences that will serve as useful probes simplifies a chromosome walking strategy.

Blot hybridization allows comparison of the structure of the clones with that of genomic DNA, and thus determines whether the clones have suffered deletions or rearrangements. The centromeric clones identified are useful for hybridization experiments that can be used to determine whether they share common sequences, whether they localize in situ to the cytologically defined centromeric region, and whether they contain repetitive sequences thought to map near Arabidopsis centromeres (Richards et al., 1991; Maluszynska et al., 1991).

Exemplary methods for conducting PFGE and YAC genome analysis described (Ecker, 1990). A large insert YAC library for genome mapping in Arabidopsis thaliana was described in Creusot (1995). The analysis of clones carrying repeated DNA sequences in two YAC libraries of Arabidopsis thaliana DNA was discussed by Schmidt et al., (1994). The construction and characterization of a yeast artificial chromosome library of Arabidopsis was described by Grill and Somerville (1991).

A particularly useful type of clone is the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), as data has suggested that YAC clones may sometimes not span centromeres (Willard, 1997). The construction and characterization of a bacterial artificial chromosome library from, for example, Arabidopsis thaliana has been described (Choi et al., 1995). The complementation of plant mutants with large genomic DNA fragments can be achieved using transformation-competent minichromosome vectors, thereby speeding positional cloning. (Liu et al., 1999). The construction and characterization of the IGF Arabidopsis BAC library was described by Mozo et al., (1998.). A complete BAC-based physical map of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome has been described (Mozo et al., 1998).

VI. Site Specific Integration and Excision of Nucleic Acid Segments

It is specifically contemplated by the inventors that one could employ techniques for the site-specific integration or excision of nucleic acid segments for the construction of minichromosomes (see, e.g., Example 8B, below). Such techniques also could be used for the site-specific integration or excision of transgenes which are introduced into a plant, including minichromosome vectors.

Site-specific integration or excision of nucleic acid molecules can be achieved by means of homologous recombination (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,695, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Homologous recombination is a reaction between any pair of DNA sequences having a similar sequence of nucleotides, where the two sequences interact (recombine) to form a new recombinant. DNA species. The frequency of homologous recombination increases as the length of the shared nucleotide DNA sequences increases, and is higher with linearized plasmid molecules than with circularized plasmid molecules. Homologous recombination can occur between two DNA sequences that are less than identical, but the recombination frequency declines as the divergence between the two sequences increases.

Introduced DNA sequences can be targeted via homologous recombination by linking a DNA molecule of interest to sequences sharing homology with endogenous sequences of the host cell. Once the DNA enters the cell, the two homologous sequences can interact to insert the introduced DNA at the site where the homologous genomic DNA sequences were located. Therefore, the choice of homologous sequences contained on the introduced DNA will determine the site where the introduced DNA is integrated via homologous recombination. For example, if the DNA sequence of interest is linked to DNA sequences sharing homology to a single copy gene of a host plant cell, the DNA sequence of interest will be inserted via homologous recombination at only that single specific site. However, if the DNA sequence of interest is linked to DNA sequences sharing homology to a multicopy gene of the host eukaryotic cell, then the DNA sequence of interest can be inserted via homologous recombination at each of the specific sites where a copy of the gene is located.

DNA can be inserted into a host chromosome or vector by a homologous recombination reaction involving either a single reciprocal recombination (resulting in the insertion of the entire length of the introduced DNA) or through a double reciprocal recombination (resulting in the insertion of only the DNA located between the two recombination events). For example, if one wishes to insert a foreign gene into the genomic site where a selected gene is located, the introduced DNA should contain sequences homologous to the selected gene. A single homologous recombination event would then result in the entire introduced DNA sequence being inserted into the selected gene. Alternatively, a double recombination event can be achieved by flanking each end of the DNA sequence of interest (the sequence intended to be inserted into the genome) with DNA sequences homologous to the selected gene. A homologous recombination event involving each of the homologous flanking regions will result in the insertion of the foreign DNA. Thus only those DNA sequences located between the two regions sharing genomic homology become integrated into the genome.

Although introduced sequences can be targeted for insertion into a specific site via homologous recombination, in higher eukaryotes homologous recombination is a relatively rare event compared to random insertion events. In plant cells, foreign DNA molecules find homologous sequences in the cell's genome and recombine at a frequency of approximately 0.54-2×10⁻⁴. Thus any transformed cell that contains an introduced DNA sequence integrated via homologous recombination will also likely contain numerous copies of randomly integrated introduced DNA sequences. Therefore, it may be desirable to use more precise mechanisms for site-specific recombination. A preferred manner for carrying out site-specific recombination comprises use of a site-specific recombinase system. In general, a site specific recombinase system consists of three elements: two pairs of DNA sequence (first and second site-specific recombination sequences) and a specific enzyme (the site-specific recombinase). The site-specific recombinase will catalyze a recombination reaction only between two site-specific recombination sequences.

A number of different site specific recombinase systems could be employed in accordance with the instant invention, including, but not limited to, the Cre/lox system of bacteriophage P1 (Hoess et al., 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,772, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), the FLP/FRT system of yeast (Golic and Lindquist, 1989), the Gin recombinase of phage Mu (Maeser and Kahmann, 1991), the Pin recombinase of E. coli (Enomoto et al, 1983), the recombinase encoded by the sre gene (ORF469) and which is capable of mediating integration of the R4 phage genome. (Matsuura et al., 1996), the site-specific recombinase encoded by pinD of Shigelia dysenteriae (Tominaga, 1997), the site-specific recombinase encoded in the major ‘pathogenicity island’ of Salmonella typhi (Zhang et al., 1997) the Int-B 13 site-specific recombinase of the bacteriophage P4 integrase family (Ravatn et al., 1998), as well as the and the R/RS system of the pSR1 plasmid (Araki et al., 1992). The bacteriophage P1 Cre/lox and the yeast FLP/FRT systems constitute two particularly useful systems for site specific recombination. In these systems, a recombinase (Cre or FLP) will interact specifically with its respective site-specific recombination sequence (lox or FRT, respectively) to invert or excise the intervening sequences. The sequence for each of these two systems is relatively short (34 bp for lox and 47 bp for FRT) and therefore, convenient for use with transformation vectors.

The FLP/FRT recombinase system has been demonstrated to function efficiently in plant cells, but could also be used in, for example, a bacterial cell or in vitro. The performance of the FLP/FRT system indicates that FRT site structure, and amount of the FLP protein present affect excision activity. In general, short incomplete FRT sites lead to higher accumulation of excision products than the complete full-length FRT sites. The systems can catalyze both intra- and intermolecular reactions, indicating their utility for DNA excision as well as integration reactions. The recombination reaction is reversible and this reversibility can compromise the efficiency of the reaction in each direction. Altering the structure of the site-specific recombination sequences is one approach to remedying this situation. The site-specific recombination sequence can be mutated in a manner that the product of the recombination reaction is no longer recognized as a substrate for the reverse reaction, thereby stabilizing the integration or excision event.

In the Cre-lox system, discovered in bacteriophage P1, recombination between loxP sites occurs in the presence of the Cre recombinase (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,772, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). This system has been utilized to excise a gene located between two lox sites which had been introduced into a yeast genome (Sauer, 1987). Cre was expressed from an inducible yeast GAL1 promoter and this Cre gene was located on an autonomously replicating yeast vector.

Since the lox site is an asymmetrical nucleotide sequence, lox sites on the same DNA molecule can have the same or opposite orientation with respect to each other. Recombination between lox sites in the same orientation results in a deletion of the DNA Segment located between the two lox sites and a connection between the resulting ends of the original DNA molecule. The deleted DNA segment forms a circular molecule of DNA. The original DNA molecule and the resulting circular molecule each contain a single lox site. Recombination between lox sites in opposite orientations on the same DNA molecule result in an inversion of the nucleotide sequence of the DNA segment located between the two lox sites. In addition, reciprocal exchange of DNA segments proximate to lox sites located on two different DNA molecules can occur. All of these recombination events are catalyzed by the product of the Cre coding region.

VII. Transformed Host Cells and Transgenic Plants

Methods and compositions for transforming a bacterium, a yeast cell, a plant cell, or an entire plant with one or more minichromosomes are further aspects of this disclosure. A transgenic bacterium, yeast cell, plant cell or plant derived from such a transformation process or the progeny and seeds from such a transgenic plant also are further embodiments of the invention.

Means for transforming bacteria and yeast cells are well known in the art. Typically, means of transformation are similar to those well known means used to transform other bacteria or yeast such as E. coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methods for DNA transformation of plant cells include Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, protoplast transformation (as used herein “protoplast transformation” includes PEG-mediated transformation, electroporation and protoplast fusion transformation), gene transfer into pollen, injection into reproductive organs, injection into immature embryos and particle bombardment. Each of these methods has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Thus, one particular method of introducing genes into a particular plant strain may not necessarily be the most effective for another plant strain, but it is well known in the art which methods are useful for a particular plant strain.

There are many methods for introducing transforming DNA segments into cells, but not all are suitable for delivering DNA to plant cells. Suitable methods are believed to include virtually any method by which DNA can be introduced into a cell, such as by Agrobacterium infection, direct delivery of DNA such as, for example, by PEG-mediated ID transformation of protoplasts (Omirulleh et al., 1993), by desiccation/inhibition-mediated DNA uptake, by electroporation, by agitation with silicon carbide fibers, by acceleration of DNA coated particles, etc. In certain embodiments, acceleration methods are preferred and include, for example, microprojectile bombardment and the like.

Technology for introduction of DNA into cells is well-known to those of skill in the art. Four general methods for delivering a gene into cells have been described: (1) chemical methods (Graham et al., 1973; Zatloukal et al., 1992); (2) physical methods such as microinjection (Capecchi, 1980), electroporation (Wong et al., 1982; Fromm et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,253) and the gene gun (Johnston et al., 1994; Fynan et al., 1993); (3) viral vectors (Clapp 1993; Lu et al., 1993; Eglitis et al., 1988a; 1988b); and (4) receptor-mediated mechanisms (Curiel et al., 1991; 1992; Wagner et al., 1992).

(i) Electroporation

The application of brief, high-voltage electric pulses to a variety of animal and plant cells leads to the formation of nanometer-sized pores in the plasma membrane. DNA is taken directly into the cell cytoplasm either through these pores or as a consequence of the redistribution of membrane components that accompanies closure of the pores. Electroporation can be extremely efficient and can be used both for transient expression of cloned genes and for establishment of cell lines that carry integrated copies of the gene of interest. Electroporation, in contrast to calcium phosphate-mediated transfection and protoplast fusion, frequently gives rise to cell lines that carry one, or at most a few, integrated copies of the foreign DNA.

The introduction of DNA by means of electroporation, is well-known to those of skill in the art. In this method, certain cell wall-degrading enzymes, such as in pectin-degrading enzymes, are employed to render the target recipient cells more susceptible to transformation by electroporation than untreated cells. Alternatively, recipient cells are made more susceptible to transformation, by mechanical wounding. To effect transformation by electroporation one may employ either friable tissues such as a suspension culture of cells, or embryogenic callus, or alternatively, one may transform immature embryos or other organized tissues directly. One would partially degrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them to pectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wounding in a controlled manner. Such cells would then be recipient to DNA transfer by electroporation, which may be carried out at this stage, and transformed cells then identified by a suitable selection or screening protocol dependent on the nature of the newly incorporated DNA.

(ii) Microprojectile Bombardment

A further advantageous method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plant cells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles may be coated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propelling force. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten, gold, platinum, and the like.

An advantage of microprojectile bombardment, in addition to it being an effective means of reproducibly stably transforming monocots, is that neither the isolation of protoplasts (Cristou et al., 1988) nor the susceptibility to Agrobacterium infection is required. An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into maize cells by acceleration is a Biolistics Particle Delivery System, which can be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through a screen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a filter surface covered with plant cells cultured in suspension. The screen disperses the particles so that they are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates. It is believed that a screen intervening between the projectile apparatus and the cells to be bombarded reduces the size of projectiles aggregate and may contribute to a higher frequency of transformation by reducing damage inflicted on the recipient cells by projectiles that are too large.

For the bombardment, cells in suspension are preferably concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively, immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culture medium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriate distance below the macroprojectile stopping plate. If desired, one or more screens also are positioned between the acceleration device and the cells to be bombarded. Through the use of techniques set forth herein one may obtain up to 1,000 or more foci of cells transiently expressing a marker gene. The number of cells in a focus which express the exogenous gene product 48 hours post-bombardment often range from 1 to 10 and average 1 to 3.

In bombardment transformation, one may optimize the prebombardment culturing conditions and the bombardment parameters to yield the maximum numbers of stable transformants. Both the physical and biological parameters for bombardment are important in this technology. Physical factors are those that involve manipulating the DNA/microprojectile precipitate or those that affect the flight and velocity of either the macro- or microprojectiles. Biological factors include all steps involved in manipulation of cells before and immediately after bombardment, the osmotic adjustment of target cells to help alleviate the trauma associated with bombardment, and also the nature of the transforming DNA, such as linearized DNA or intact supercoiled plasmids. It is believed that pre-bombardment manipulations are especially important for successful transformation of immature embryos.

Accordingly, it is contemplated that one may wish to adjust various of the bombardment parameters in small scale studies to fully optimize the conditions. One may particularly wish to adjust physical parameters such as gap distance, flight distance, tissue distance, and helium pressure. One also may minimize the trauma reduction factors (TRFs) by modifying conditions which influence the physiological state of the recipient cells and which may therefore influence transformation and integration efficiencies. For example, the osmotic state, tissue hydration and the subculture stage or cell cycle of the recipient cells may be adjusted for optimum transformation. The execution of other routine adjustments will be known to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure.

(iii) Agrobacterium-Mediated Transfer

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is a widely applicable system for introducing genes into plant cells because the DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassing the need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. The use of Agrobacterium-mediated plant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is well known in the art. See, for example, the methods described (Fraley et al., 1985; Rogers et al., 1987). Advances in Agrobacterium-mediated transfer now allow introduction of large segments of DNA (Hamilton, 1997; Hamilton et al., 1996).

Using conventional transformation vectors, chromosomal integration is required for stable inheritance of the foreign DNA. However, the vector described herein may be used for transformation with or without integration, as the centromere function required for stable inheritance is encoded within the minichromosome. In particular embodiments, transformation events in which the minichromosome is not chromosomally integrated may be preferred, in that problems with site-specific variations in expression and insertional mutagenesis may be avoided.

The integration of the Ti-DNA is a relatively precise process resulting in few rearrangements. The region of DNA to be transferred is defined by the border sequences, and intervening DNA is usually inserted into the plant genome as described (Spielmann et al., 1986; Jorgensen et al., 1987). Modern Agrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E. coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations as described (Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate construction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described (Rogers et al., 1987), have convenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptide coding genes and are suitable for present purposes. In addition, Agrobacterium containing both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used for the transformations. In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is efficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and defined nature of the gene transfer.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of leaf disks and other tissues such as cotyledons and hypocotyls appears to be limited to plants that Agrobacterium naturally infects. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is most efficient in dicotyledonous plants. Few monocots appear to be natural hosts for Agrobacterium, although transgenic plants have been produced in asparagus and more significantly in maize using Agrobacterium vectors as described (Bytebier et al., 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616, specifically incorporated herein by reference). Therefore, commercially important cereal grains such as rice, corn, and wheat must usually be transformed using alternative methods. However, as mentioned above, the transformation of asparagus using Agrobacterium also can be achieved (see, for example, Bytebier et al., 1987). Agrobacterium-mediated transfer may be made more efficient through the use of a mutant that is defective in integration of the Agrobacterium T-DNA but competent for delivery of the DNA into the cell (Mysore et al., 2000a). Additionally, even in Arabidopsis ecotypes and mutants that are recalcitrant to Agrobacterium root transformation, germ-line transformation may be carried out (Mysore et al., 2000b)

A transgenic plant formed using Agrobacterium transformation methods typically contains a single gene on one chromosome. Such transgenic plants can be referred to as being hemizygous for the added gene. A more accurate name for such a plant is an independent segregant, because each transformed plant represents a unique T-DNA integration event.

More preferred is a transgenic plant that is homozygous for the added foreign DNA; i.e., a transgenic plant that contains two copies of a transgene, one gene at the same locus on each chromosome of a chromosome pair. A homozygous transgenic plant can be obtained by sexually mating (selfing) an independent segregant transgenic plant that contains a single added transgene, germinating some of the seed produced and analyzing the resulting plants produced for enhanced activity relative to a control (native, non-transgenic) or an independent segregant transgenic plant.

Even more preferred is a plant in which the minichromosome has not been chromosomally integrated. Such a plant may be termed 2n+x, where 2n is the diploid number of chromosomes and where x is the number of minichromosomes. Initially, transformants may be 2n+1, i.e. having 1 additional minichromosome. In this case, it may be desirable to self the plant or to cross the plant with another 2n+1 plant to yield a plant which is 2n+2. The 2n+2 plant is preferred in that it is expected to pass the minichromosome through meiosis to all its offspring.

It is to be understood that two different transgenic plants also can be mated to produce offspring that contain two independently segregating added, exogenous minichromosomes. Selfing of appropriate progeny can produce plants that are homozygous for both added, exogenous minichromosomes that encode a polypeptide of interest. Back-crossing to a parental plant and out-crossing with a non-transgenic plant also are contemplated.

(iv) Other Transformation Methods

Transformation of plant protoplasts can be achieved using methods based on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment, electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g., Potrykus et al., 1985; Lorz et al., 1985; Fromm et al., 1986; Uchimiya et al., 1986; Callis et al., 1987; Marcotte et. al., 1988).

Application of these systems to different plant strains for the purpose of making transgenic plants depends upon the ability to regenerate that particular plant strain from protoplasts. Illustrative methods for the regeneration of cereals from protoplasts are described (Fujimura et al., 1985; Toriyama et al., 1986; Yamada et al., 1986; Abdullah et al., 1986).

To transform plant strains that cannot be successfully regenerated from protoplasts, other ways to introduce DNA into intact cells or tissues can be utilized. For example, regeneration of cereals from immature embryos or explants can be effected as described (Vasil 1988). In addition, “particle gun” or high-velocity microprojectile technology can be utilized (Vasil 1992).

Using that latter technology, DNA is carried through the cell wall and into the cytoplasm on the surface of small metal particles as described (Klein et al., 1987; Klein et al., 1988; McCabe et al., 1988). The metal particles penetrate through several layers of cells and thus allow the transformation of cells within tissue explants.

Protoplast fusion, for example, could be used to integrate a minichromosome constructed in a host cell, such as a yeast cell, and then fuse those cells to plant protoplasts. The chromosomes lacking plant centromeres (such as yeast chromosomes in this example) would be eliminated by the plant cell while the minichromosome would be stably maintained. Numerous examples of protocols for protoplast fusion that could be used with the invention have been described (see, e.g., Negrutiu et al., 1992, and Peterson).

Liposome fusion could be used to introduce a recombinant construct comprising a centromere, such as a minichromosome, by, for example, packaging the recombinant construct into small droplets of lipids (liposomes) and then fusing these liposomes to plant protoplasts thus delivering the AC into the plant cell (see Lurqui and Rollo, 1993).

VIII. Exogenous Genes for Expression in Plants

One particularly important advance of the present invention is that it provides methods and compositions for expression of exogenous genes in plant cells. One advance of the constructs of the current invention is that they enable the introduction of multiple genes, potentially representing an entire biochemical pathway. Significantly, the current invention allows for the transformation of plant cells with a minichromosome comprising a number of structural genes. Another advantage is that more than one minichromosome could be introduced, allowing combinations of genes to be moved and shuffled. Moreover, the ability to eliminate a minichromosome from a plant would provide additional flexibility, making it possible to alter the set of genes contained within a plant. Further, by using site-specific recombinases, it should be possible to add genes to an existing minichromosome once it is in a plant.

Added genes often will be genes that direct the expression of a particular protein or polypeptide product, but they also may be non-expressible DNA segments, e.g., transposons such as Ds that do not direct their own transposition. As used herein, an “expressible gene” is any gene that is capable of being transcribed into RNA (e.g., mRNA, antisense RNA, etc.) or translated into a protein, expressed as a trait of interest, or the like, etc., and is not limited to selectable, screenable or non-selectable marker genes. The inventors also contemplate that, where both an expressible gene that is not necessarily a marker gene is employed in combination with a marker gene, one may employ the separate genes on either the same or different DNA segments for transformation. In the latter case, the different vectors are delivered concurrently to recipient cells to maximize cotransformation.

The choice of the particular DNA segments to be delivered to the recipient cells often will depend on the purpose of the transformation. One of the major purposes of transformation of crop plants is to add some commercially desirable, agronomically important traits to the plant. Such traits include, but are not limited to, herbicide resistance or tolerance; insect resistance or tolerance; disease resistance or tolerance (viral, bacterial, fungal, nematode); stress tolerance and/or resistance, as exemplified by resistance or tolerance to drought, heat, chilling, freezing, excessive moisture, salt stress; oxidative stress; increased yields; food content and makeup; physical appearance; male sterility; drydown; standability; prolificacy; starch quantity and quality; oil quantity and quality; protein quality and quantity; amino acid composition; and the like. One may desire to incorporate one or more genes conferring any such desirable trait or traits, such as, for example, a gene or genes encoding herbicide resistance.

In certain embodiments, the present invention contemplates the transformation of a recipient cell with minichromosomes comprising more than one exogenous gene. As used herein, an “exogenous gene,” is a gene not normally found in the host genome in an identical context. By this, it is meant that the gene may be isolated from a different species than that of the host genome, or alternatively, isolated from the host genome but operably linked to one or more regulatory regions which differ from those found in the unaltered, native gene. Two or more exogenous genes also can be supplied in a single transformation event using either distinct transgene-encoding vectors, or using a single vector incorporating two or more gene coding sequences. For example, plasmids bearing the bar and aroA expression units in either convergent, divergent, or colinear orientation, are considered to be particularly useful. Further preferred combinations are those of an insect resistance gene, such as a Bt gene, along with a protease inhibitor gene such as pinII, or the use of bar in combination with either of the above genes. Of course, any two or more transgenes of any description, such as those conferring herbicide, insect, disease (viral, bacterial, fungal, nematode) or drought resistance, male sterility, drydown, standability, prolificacy, starch properties, oil quantity and quality, or those increasing yield or nutritional quality may be employed as desired.

(i) Herbicide Resistance

The genes encoding phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (bar and pat), glyphosate tolerant EPSP synthase genes, the glyphosate degradative enzyme gene gox encoding glyphosate oxidoreductase, deh (encoding a dehalogenase enzyme that inactivates dalapon), herbicide resistant (e.g., sulfonylurea and imidazolinone) acetolactate synthase, and bxn genes (encoding a nitrilase enzyme that degrades bromoxynil) are good examples of herbicide resistant genes for use in transformation. The bar and pat genes code for an enzyme, phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT), which inactivates the herbicide phosphinothricin and prevents this compound from inhibiting glutamine synthetase enzymes. The enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EPSP Synthase), is normally inhibited by the herbicide N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate). However, genes are known that encode glyphosate-resistant EPSP synthase enzymes. These genes are particularly contemplated for use in plant transformation. The deh gene encodes the enzyme dalapon dehalogenase and confers resistance to the herbicide dalapon. The bxn gene codes for a specific nitrilase enzyme that converts bromoxynil to a non-herbicidal degradation product.

(ii) Insect Resistance

Potential insect resistance genes that can be introduced include Bacillus thuringiensis crystal toxin genes or Bt genes (Watrud et al., 1985). Bt genes may provide resistance to lepidopteran or coleopteran pests such as European Corn Borer (ECB). Preferred Bt toxin genes for use in such embodiments include the CryIA(b) and CryIA(c) genes. Endotoxin genes from other species of B. thuringiensis which affect insect growth or development also may be employed in this regard.

It is contemplated that preferred Bt genes for use in the transformation protocols disclosed herein will be those in which the coding sequence has been modified to effect increased expression in plants, and more particularly, in monocot plants. Means for preparing synthetic genes are well known in the art and are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,365 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, each of the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Examples of such modified Bt toxin genes include a synthetic Bt CryIA(b) gene (Perlak et al., 1991), and the synthetic CryIA(c) gene termed 1800b (PCT Application WO 95/06128). Some examples of other Bt toxin genes known to those of skill in the art a are given in Table 1 below. TABLE 1 Bacillus thuringiensis δ-Endotoxin Genes^(a) GenBank New Nomenclature Old Nomenclature Accession Cry1Aa CryIA(a) M11250 Cry1Ab CryIA(b) M13898 Cry1Ac CryIA(c) M11068 Cry1Ad CryIA(d) M73250 Cry1Ae CryIA(e) M65252 Cry1Ba CryIB X06711 Cry1Bb ET5 L32020 Cry1Bc PEG5 Z46442 Cry1Bd CryE1 U70726 Cry1Ca CryIC X07518 Cry1Cb CryIC(b) M97880 Cry1Da CryID X54160 Cry1Db PrtB Z22511 Cry1Ea CryIE X53985 Cry1Eb CryIE(b) M73253 Cry1Fa CryIF M63897 Cry1Fb PrtD Z22512 Cry1Ga PrtA Z22510 Cry1Gb CryH2 U70725 Cry1Ha PrtC Z22513 Cry1Hb U35780 Cry1Ia CryV X62821 Cry1Ib CryV U07642 Cry1Ja ET4 L32019 Cry1Jb ET1 U31527 Cry1K U28801 Cry2Aa CryIIA M31738 Cry2Ab CryIIB M23724 Cry2Ac CryIIC X57252 Cry3A CryIIIA M22472 Cry3Ba CryIIIB X17123 Cry3Bb CryIIIB2 M89794 Cry3C CryIIID X59797 Cry4A CryIVA Y00423 Cry4B CryIVB X07423 Cry5Aa CryVA(a) L07025 Cry5Ab CryVA(b) L07026 Cry6A CryVIA L07022 Cry6B CryVIB L07024 Cry7Aa CryIIIC M64478 Cry7Ab CryIIICb U04367 Cry8A CryIIIE U04364 Cry8B CryIIIG U04365 Cry8C CryIIIF U04366 Cry9A CryIG X58120 Cry9B CryIX X75019 Cry9C CryIH Z37527 Cry10A CryIVC M12662 Cry11A CryIVD M31737 Cry11B Jeg80 X86902 Cry12A CryVB L07027 Cry13A CryVC L07023 Cry14A CryVD U13955 Cry15A 34 kDa M76442 Cry16A cbm71 X94146 Cry17A cbm71 X99478 Cry18A CryBP1 X99049 Cry19A Jeg65 Y08920 Cyt1Aa CytA X03182 Cyt1Ab CytM X98793 Cyt2A CytB Z14147 Cyt2B CytB U52043 ^(a)Adapted from: http://epunix.biols.susx.ac.uk/Home/Neil_Crickmore/Bt/index.html

Protease inhibitors also may provide insect resistance (Johnson et al., 1989), and will thus have utility in plant transformation. The use of a protease inhibitor II gene, pinII, from tomato or potato is envisioned to be particularly useful. Even more advantageous is the use of a pinII gene in combination with a Bt toxin gene, the combined effect of which has been discovered to produce synergistic insecticidal activity. Other genes which encode inhibitors of the insect's digestive system, or those that encode enzymes or co-factors that facilitate the production of inhibitors, also may be useful. This group may be exemplified by oryzacystatin and amylase inhibitors such as those from wheat and barley.

Also, genes encoding lectins may confer additional or alternative insecticide properties. Lectins (originally termed phytohemagglutinins) are multivalent carbohydrate-binding proteins which have the ability to agglutinate red blood cells from a range of species. Lectins have been identified recently as insecticidal agents with activity against weevils, ECB and rootworm (Murdock et al., 1990; Czapla & Lang, 1990). Lectin genes contemplated to be useful include, for example, barley and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and rice lectins (Gatehouse et al., 1984), with WGA being preferred.

Genes controlling the production of large or small polypeptides active against insects when introduced into the insect pests, such as, e.g., lytic peptides, peptide hormones and toxins and venoms, form another aspect of the invention. For example, it is contemplated that the expression of juvenile hormone estersse, directed towards specific insect pests, also may result in insecticidal activity, or perhaps cause cessation of metamorphosis (Hammock et al., 1990).

Transgenic plants expressing genes which encode enzymes that affect the integrity of the insect cuticle form yet another aspect of the invention. Such genes include those encoding, e.g., chitinase, proteases, lipases and also genes for the production of nikkomycin, a compound that inhibits chitin synthesis, the introduction of any of which is contemplated to produce insect resistant plants. Genes that code for activities that affect insect molting, such as those affecting the production of ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyl transferase, also fall within the scope of the useful transgenes of the present invention.

Genes that code for enzymes that facilitate the production of compounds that reduce the nutritional quality of the host plant to insect pests also are encompassed by the present invention. It may be possible, for instance, to confer insecticidal activity on a plant by altering its sterol composition. Sterols are obtained by insects from their diet and are used for hormone synthesis and membrane stability. Therefore alterations in plant sterol composition by expression of novel genes, e.g., those that directly promote the production of undesirable sterols or those that convert desirable sterols into undesirable forms, could have a negative effect on insect growth and/or development and hence endow the plant with insecticidal activity. Lipoxygenases are naturally occurring plant enzymes that have been shown to exhibit anti-nutritional effects on insects and to reduce the nutritional quality of their diet. Therefore, further embodiments of the invention concern transgenic plants with enhanced lipoxygenase activity which may be resistant to insect feeding.

Tripsacum dactyloides is a species of grass that is resistant to certain insects, including corn root worm. It is anticipated that genes encoding proteins that are toxic to insects or are involved in the biosynthesis of compounds toxic to insects will be isolated from Tripsacum and that these novel genes will be useful in conferring resistance to insects. It is known that the basis of insect resistance in Tripsacum is genetic, because said resistance has been transferred to Zea mays via sexual crosses (Branson and Guss, 1972). It is further anticipated that other cereal, monocot or dicot plant species may have genes encoding proteins that are toxic to insects which would be useful for producing insect resistant plants.

Further genes encoding proteins characterized as having potential insecticidal activity also may be used as transgenes in accordance herewith. Such genes include, for example, the cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI; Hilder et al., 1987) which may be used as a rootworm deterrent; genes encoding avermectin (Avermectin and Abamectin, Campbell, W. C., Ed., 1989; Ikeda et al., 1987) which may prove particularly useful as a corn rootworm deterrent; ribosome inactivating protein genes; and even genes that regulate plant structures. Transgenic plants including anti-insect antibody genes and genes that code for enzymes that can convert a non-toxic insecticide (pro-insecticide) applied to the outside of the plant into an insecticide inside the plant also are contemplated.

(iii) Environment or Stress Resistance

Improvement of a plants ability to tolerate various environmental stresses such as, but not limited to, drought, excess moisture, chilling, freezing, high temperature, salt, and oxidative stress, also can be effected through expression of novel genes. It is proposed that benefits may be realized in terms of increased resistance to freezing temperatures through the introduction of an “antifreeze” protein such as that of the Winter Flounder (Cutler et al., 1989) or synthetic gene derivatives thereof. Improved chilling tolerance also may be confereed through increased expression of glycerol-3-phosphate acetyltransferase in chloroplasts (Wolter et al., 1992). Resistance to oxidative stress (often exacerbated by conditions such as chilling temperatures in combination with high light intensities) can be conferred by expression of superoxide dismutase (Gupta et al., 1993), and may be improved by glutathione reductase (Bowler et al., 1992). Such strategies may allow for tolerance to freezing in newly emerged fields as well as extending later maturity higher yielding varieties to earlier relative maturity zones.

It is contemplated that the expression of novel genes that favorably effect plant water content, total water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor will enhance the ability of the plant to tolerate drought. As used herein, the terms “drought resistance” and “drought tolerance” are used to refer to a plants increased resistance or tolerance to stress induced by a reduction in water availability, as compared to normal circumstances, and the ability of the plant to function and survive in lower-water environments. In this aspect of the invention it is proposed, for example, that the expression of genes encoding for the biosynthesis of osmotically-active solutes, such as polyol compounds, may impart protection against drought. Within this class are genes encoding for mannitol-L-phosphate dehydrogenase (Lee and Saier, 1982) and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Kaasen et al., 1992). Through the subsequent action of native phosphatases in the cell or by the introduction and coexpression of a specific phosphatase, these introduced genes will result in the accumulation of either mannitol or trehalose, respectively, both of which have been well documented as protective compounds able to mitigate the effects of stress. Mannitol accumulation in transgenic tobacco has been verified and preliminary results indicate that plants expressing high levels of this metabolite are able to tolerate an applied osmotic stress (Tarczynski et al., 1992, 1993).

Similarly, the efficacy of other metabolites in protecting either enzyme function (e.g., alanopine or propionic acid) or membrane integrity (e.g., alanopine) has been documented (Loomis et al., 1989), and therefore expression of genes encoding for the biosynthesis of these compounds might confer drought resistance in a manner similar to or complimentary to mannitol. Other examples of naturally occurring metabolites that are osmotically active and/or provide some direct protective effect during drought and/or desiccation include fructose, erythritol (Coxson et al., 1992), sorbitol, dulcitol (Karsten et al., 1992), glucosylglycerol (Reed et al., 1984; ErdMann et al., 1992), sucrose, stachyose (Koster and Leopold, 1988; Blackman et al., 1992), raffinose (Bernal-Lugo and Leopold, 1992), proline (Rensburg et al., 1993), glycine betaine, ononitol and pinitol (Vernon and Bohnert, 1992). Continued canopy growth and increased reproductive fitness during times of stress will be augmented by introduction and expression of genes such as those controlling the osmotically active compounds discussed above and other such compounds. Currently preferred genes which promote the synthesis of an osmotically active polyol compound are genes which encode the enzymes mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and myoinositol 0-methyltransferase.

It is contemplated that the expression of specific proteins also may increase drought tolerance. Three classes of Late Embryogenic Proteins have been assigned based on structural similarities (see Dure et al., 1989). All three classes of LEAs have been demonstrated in maturing (i.e. desiccating) seeds. Within these 3 types of LEA proteins, the Type-II (dehydrin-type) have generally been implicated in drought and/or desiccation tolerance in vegetative plant parts (i.e. Mundy and Chua, 1988; Piatkowski et al., 1990; Yamaguchi-Shinozaki et al., 1992). Recently, expression of a Type-III LEA (HVA-1) in tobacco was found to influence plant height, maturity and drought tolerance (Fitzpatrick, 1993). In rice, expression of the HVA-1 gene influenced tolerance to water deficit and salinity (Xu et al., 1996). Expression of structural genes from all three LEA groups may therefore confer drought tolerance. Other types of proteins induced during water stress include thiol proteases, aldolases and transmembrane transporters (Guerrero et al., 1990), which may confer various protective and/or repair-type functions during drought stress. It also is contemplated that genes that effect lipid biosynthesis and hence membrane composition might also be useful in conferring drought resistance on the plant.

Many of these genes for improving drought resistance have complementary modes of action. Thus, it is envisaged that combinations of these genes might have additive and/or synergistic effects in improving drought resistance in plants. Many of these genes also improve freezing tolerance (or resistance); the physical stresses incurred during freezing and drought are similar in nature and may be mitigated in similar fashion. Benefit may be conferred via constitutive expression of these genes, but the preferred means of expressing these novel genes may be through the use of a turgor-induced promoter (such as the promoters for the turgor-induced genes described in Guerrero et al., 1990 and Shagan et al., 1993 which are incorporated herein by reference). Spatial and temporal expression patterns of these genes may enable plants to better withstand stress.

It is proposed that expression of genes that are involved with specific morphological traits that allow for increased water extractions from drying soil would be of benefit. For example, introduction and expression of genes that alter root characteristics may enhance water uptake. It also is contemplated that expression of genes that enhance reproductive fitness during times of stress would be of significant value. For example, expression of genes that improve the synchrony of pollen shed and receptiveness of the female flower parts, i.e., silks, would be of benefit. In addition it is proposed that expression of genes that minimize kernel abortion during times of stress would increase the amount of grain to be harvested and hence be of value.

Given the overall role of water in determining yield, it is contemplated that enabling plants to utilize water more efficiently, through the introduction and expression of novel genes, will improve overall performance even when soil water availability is not limiting. By introducing genes that improve the ability of plants to maximize water usage across a full range of stresses relating to water availability, yield stability or consistency of yield performance may be realized.

(iv) Disease Resistance

It is proposed that increased resistance to diseases may be realized through introduction of genes into plants, for example, into monocotyledonous plants such as maize. It is possible to produce resistance to diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematodes. It also is contemplated that control of mycotoxin producing organisms may be realized through expression of introduced genes.

Resistance to viruses may be produced through expression of novel genes. For example, it has been demonstrated that expression of a viral coat protein in a transgenic plant can impart resistance to infection of the plant by that virus and perhaps other closely related viruses (Cuozzo et al., 1988, Hemenway et al., 1988, Abel et al., 1986). It is contemplated that expression of antisense genes targeted at essential viral functions may also impart resistance to viruses. For example, an antisense gene targeted at the gene responsible for replication of viral nucleic acid may inhibit replication and lead to resistance to the virus. It is believed that interference with other viral functions through the use of antisense genes also may increase resistance to viruses. Further, it is proposed that it may be possible to achieve resistance to viruses through other approaches, including, but not limited to the use of satellite viruses.

It is proposed that increased resistance to diseases caused by bacteria and fungi may be realized through introduction of novel genes. It is contemplated that genes encoding so-called “peptide antibiotics,” pathogenesis related (PR) proteins, toxin resistance, and proteins affecting host-pathogen interactions such as morphological characteristics will be useful. Peptide antibiotics are polypeptide sequences which are inhibitory to growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. For example, the classes of peptides referred to as cecropins and magainins inhibit growth of many species of bacteria and fungi. It is proposed that expression of PR proteins in monocotyledonous plants such as maize may be useful in conferring resistance to bacterial disease. These genes are induced following pathogen attack on a host plant and have been divided into at least five classes of proteins (Bol, Linthorst, and Cornelissen, 1990). Included amongst the PR proteins are β-1,3-glucanases, chitinases, and osmotin and other proteins that are believed to function in plant resistance to disease organisms. Other genes have been identified that have antifungal properties, e.g., UDA (stinging nettle lectin) and hevein (Broakaert et al., 1989; Barkai-Golan et al., 1978). It is known that certain plant diseases are caused by the production of phytotoxins. It is proposed that resistance to these diseases would be achieved through expression of a novel gene that encodes an enzyme capable of degrading or otherwise inactivating the phytotoxin. It also is contemplated that expression of novel genes that alter the interactions between the host plant and pathogen may be useful in reducing the ability of the disease organism to invade the tissues of the host plant, e.g., an increase in the waxiness of the leaf cuticle or other morphological characteristics.

(v) Plant Agronomic Characteristics

Two of the factors determining where crop plants can be grown are the average daily temperature during the growing season and the length of time between frosts. Within the areas where it is possible to grow a particular crop, there are varying limitations on the maximal time it is allowed to grow to maturity and be harvested. For example, a variety to be grown in a particular area is selected for its ability to mature and dry down to harvestable moisture content within the required period of time with maximum possible yield. Therefore, crops of varying maturities is developed for different growing locations. Apart from the need to dry down sufficiently to permit harvest, it is desirable to have maximal drying take place in the field to minimize the amount of energy required for additional drying post-harvest. Also, the more readily a product such as grain can dry down, the more time there is available for growth and kernel fill. It is considered that genes that influence maturity and/or dry down can be identified and introduced into plant lines using transformation techniques to create new varieties adapted to different growing locations or the same growing location, but having improved yield to moisture ratio at harvest. Expression of genes that are involved in regulation of plant development may be especially useful.

It is contemplated that genes may be introduced into plants that would improve standability and other plant growth characteristics. Expression of novel genes in plants which confer stronger stalks, improved root systems, or prevent or reduce ear droppage would be of great value to the farmer. It is proposed that introduction and expression of genes that increase the total amount of photoassimilate available by, for example, increasing light distribution and/or interception would be advantageous. In addition, the expression of genes that increase the efficiency of photosynthesis and/or the leaf canopy would further increase gains in productivity. It is contemplated that expression of a phytochrome gene in crop plants may be advantageous. Expression of such a gene may reduce apical dominance, confer semidwarfism on a plant, and increase shade tolerance (U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,526). Such approaches would allow for increased plant populations in the field.

(vi) Nutrient Utilization

The ability to utilize available nutrients may be a limiting factor in growth of crop plants. It is proposed that it would be possible to alter nutrient uptake, tolerate pH extremes, mobilization through the plant, storage pools, and availability for metabolic activities by the introduction of novel genes. These modifications would allow a plant such as maize to more efficiently utilize available nutrients. It is contemplated that an increase in the activity of, for example, an enzyme that is normally present in the plant and involved in nutrient utilization would increase the availability of a nutrient. An example of such an enzyme would be phytase. It is further contemplated that enhanced nitrogen utilization by a plant is desirable. Expression of a glutamate dehydrogenase gene in plants, e.g., E. coli gdhA genes, may lead to increased fixation of nitrogen in organic compounds. Furthermore, expression of gdhA in plants may lead to enhanced resistance to the herbicide glufosinate by incorporation of excess ammonia into glutamate, thereby detoxifying the ammonia. It also is contemplated that expression of a novel gene may make a nutrient source available that was previously not accessible, e.g., an enzyme that releases a component of nutrient value from a more complex molecule, perhaps a macromolecule.

(vii) Mate Sterility

Male sterility is useful in the production of hybrid seed. It is proposed that male sterility may be produced through expression of novel genes. For example, it has been shown that expression of genes that encode proteins that interfere with development of the male inflorescence and/or gametophyte result in male sterility. Chimeric ribonuclease genes that express in the anthers of transgenic tobacco and oilseed rape have been demonstrated to lead to male sterility (Mariani et al., 1990).

A number of mutations were discovered in maize that confer cytoplasmic male sterility. One mutation in particular, referred to as T cytoplasm, also correlates with sensitivity to Southern corn leaf blight. A DNA sequence, designated TURF-13 (Levings, 1990), was identified that correlates with T cytoplasm. It is proposed that it would be possible through the introduction of TURF-13 via transformation, to separate male sterility from disease sensitivity. As it is necessary to be able to restore male fertility for breeding purposes and for grain production, it is proposed that genes encoding restoration of male fertility also may be introduced.

(viii) Improved Nutritional Content

Genes may be introduced into plants to improve the nutrient quality or content of a particular crop. Introduction of genes that alter the nutrient composition of a crop may greatly enhance the feed or food value. For example, the protein of many grains is suboptimal for feed and food purposes, especially when fed to pigs, poultry, and humans. The protein is deficient in several amino acids that are essential in the diet of these species, requiring the addition of supplements to the grain. Limiting essential amino acids may include lysine, methionine, tryptophan, threonine, valine, arginine, and histidine. Some amino acids become limiting only after corn is supplemented with other inputs for feed formulations. The levels of these essential amino acids in seeds and grain may be elevated by mechanisms which include, but are not limited to, the introduction of genes to increase the biosynthesis of the amino acids, decrease the degradation of the amino acids, increase the storage of the amino acids in proteins, or increase transport of the amino acids to the seeds or grain.

The protein composition of a crop may be altered to improve the balance of amino acids in a variety of ways including elevating expression of native proteins, decreasing expression of those with poor composition, changing the composition of native proteins, or introducing genes encoding entirely new proteins possessing superior composition.

The introduction of genes that alter the oil content of a crop plant may also be of value. Increases in oil content may result in increases in metabolizable-energy-content and density of the seeds for use in feed and food. The introduced genes may encode enzymes that remove or reduce rate-limitations or regulated steps in fatty acid or lipid biosynthesis. Such genes may include, but are not limited to, those that encode acetyl-CoA carboxylase, ACP-acyltransferase, β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase, plus other well known fatty acid biosynthetic activities. Other possibilities are genes that encode proteins that do not possess enzymatic activity such as acyl carrier protein. Genes may be introduced that alter the balance of fatty acids present in the oil providing a more healthful or nutritive feedstuff. The introduced DNA also may encode sequences that block expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, altering the proportions of fatty acids present in crops.

Genes may be introduced that enhance the nutritive value of the starch component of crops, for example by increasing the degree of branching, resulting in improved utilization of the starch in livestock by delaying its metabolism. Additionally, other major constituents of a crop may be altered, including genes that affect a variety of other nutritive, processing, or other quality aspects. For example, pigmentation may be increased or decreased.

Feed or food crops may also possesses insufficient quantities of vitamins, requiring supplementation to provide adequate nutritive value. Introduction of genes that enhance vitamin biosynthesis may be envisioned including, for example, vitamins A, E, B₁₂, choline, and the like. Mineral content may also be sub-optimal. Thus genes that affect the accumulation or availability of compounds containing phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, manganese, zinc, and iron among others would be valuable.

Numerous other examples of improvements of crops may be used with the invention. The improvements may not necessarily involve grain, but may, for example, improve the value of a crop for silage. Introduction of DNA to accomplish this might include sequences that alter lignin production such as those that result in the “brown midrib” phenotype associated with superior feed value for cattle.

In addition to direct improvements in feed or food value, genes also may be introduced which improve the processing of crops and improve the value of the products resulting from the processing. One use of crops if via wetmilling. Thus novel genes that increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of such processing, for example by decreasing steeping time, may also find use. Improving the value of wetmilling products may include altering the quantity or quality of starch, oil, corn gluten meal, or the components of gluten feed. Elevation of starch may be achieved through the identification and elimination of rate limiting steps in starch biosynthesis or by decreasing levels of the other components of crops resulting in proportional increases in starch.

Oil is another product of wetmilling, the value of which may be improved by introduction and expression of genes. Oil properties may be altered to improve its performance in the production and use of cooking oil, shortenings, lubricants or other oil-derived products or improvement of its health attributes when used in the food-related applications. Novel fatty acids also may be synthesized which upon extraction can serve as starting materials for chemical syntheses. The changes in oil properties may be achieved by altering the type, level, or lipid arrangement of the fatty acids present in the oil. This in turn may be accomplished by the addition of genes that encode enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of novel fatty acids and the lipids possessing them or by increasing levels of native fatty acids while possibly reducing levels of precursors. Alternatively, DNA sequences may be introduced which slow or block steps in fatty acid biosynthesis resulting in the increase in precursor fatty acid intermediates. Genes that might be added include desaturases, epoxidases, hydratases, dehydratases, and other enzymes that catalyze reactions involving fatty acid intermediates. Representative examples of catalytic steps that might be blocked include the desaturations from stearic to oleic acid and oleic to linolenic acid resulting in the respective accumulations of stearic and oleic acids. Another example is the blockage of elongation steps resulting in the accumulation of C₈ to C₁₂ saturated fatty acids.

(ix) Production or Assimilation of Chemicals or Biologicals

It may further be considered that a transgenic plant prepared in accordance with the invention may be used for the production or manufacturing of useful biological compounds that were either not produced at all, or not produced at the same level, in the corn plant previously. Alternatively, plants produced in accordance with the invention may be made to metabolize certain compounds, such as hazardous wastes, thereby allowing bioremediation of these compounds.

The novel plants producing these compounds are made possible by the introduction and expression of one or potentially many genes with the constructs provided by the invention. The vast array of possibilities include but are not limited to any biological compound which is presently produced by any organism such as proteins, nucleic acids, primary and intermediary metabolites, carbohydrate polymers, enzymes for uses in bioremediation, enzymes for modifying pathways that produce secondary plant, metabolites such as flavonoids or vitamins, enzymes that could produce pharmaceuticals, and for introducing enzymes that could produce compounds of interest to the manufacturing industry such as specialty chemicals and plastics. The compounds may be produced by the plant, extracted upon harvest and/or processing, and used for any presently recognized useful purpose such as pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and industrial enzymes to name a few.

(x) Non-Protein-Expressing Sequences

DNA may be introduced into plants for the purpose of expressing RNA transcripts that function to affect plant phenotype yet are not translated into protein. Two examples are antisense RNA and RNA with ribozyme activity. Both may serve possible functions in reducing or eliminating expression of native or introduced plant genes. However, as detailed below, DNA need not be expressed to effect the phenotype of a plant.

1. Antisense RNA

Genes may be constructed or isolated, which when transcribed, produce antisense RNA that is complementary to all or part(s) of a targeted messenger RNA(s). The antisense RNA reduces production of the polypeptide product of the messenger RNA. The polypeptide product may be any protein encoded by the plant genome. The aforementioned genes will be referred to as antisense genes. An antisense gene may thus be introduced into a plant by transformation methods to produce a novel transgenic plant with reduced expression of a selected protein of interest. For example, the protein may be an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction in the plant. Reduction of the enzyme activity may reduce or eliminate products of the reaction which include any enzymatically synthesized compound in the plant such as fatty acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and the like. Alternatively, the protein may be a storage protein, such as a zein, or a structural protein, the decreased expression of which may lead to changes in seed amino acid composition or plant morphological changes respectively. The possibilities cited above are provided only by way of example and do not represent the full range of applications.

2. Ribozymes

Genes also may be constructed or isolated, which when transcribed, produce RNA enzymes (ribozymes) which can act as endoribonucleases and catalyze the cleavage of RNA molecules with selected sequences. The cleavage of selected messenger RNAs can result in the reduced production of their encoded polypeptide products. These genes may be used to prepare novel transgenic plants which possess them. The transgenic plants may possess reduced levels of polypeptides including, but not limited to, the polypeptides cited above.

Ribozymes are RNA-protein complexes that cleave nucleic acids in a site-specific fashion. Ribozymes have specific catalytic domains that possess endonuclease activity (Kim and Cech, 1987; Gerlach et al., 1987; Forster and Symons, 1987). For example, a large number of ribozymes accelerate phosphoester transfer reactions with a high degree of specificity, often cleaving only one of several phosphoesters in an oligonucleotide substrate (Cech et al., 1981; Michel and Westhof, 1990; Reinhold-Hurek and Shub, 1992). This specificity has been attributed to the requirement that the substrate bind via specific base-pairing interactions to the internal guide sequence (“IGS”) of the ribozyme prior to chemical reaction.

Ribozyme catalysis has primarily been observed as part of sequence-specific cleavage/ligation reactions involving nucleic acids (Joyce, 1989; Cech et al., 1981). For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,855 reports that certain ribozymes can act as endonucleases with a sequence specificity greater than that of known ribonucleases and approaching that of the DNA restriction enzymes.

Several different ribozyme motifs have been described with RNA cleavage activity (Symons, 1992). Examples include sequences from the Group I self splicing introns including Tobacco Ringspot Virus (Prody et al., 1986), Avocado Sunblotch Viroid (Palukaitis et al., 1979; Symons, 1981), and Lucerne Transient Streak Virus (Forster and Symons, 1987). Sequences from these and related viruses are referred to as hammerhead ribozyme based on a predicted folded secondary structure.

Other suitable ribozymes include sequences from RNase P with RNA cleavage activity (Yuan et al., 1992, Yuan and Altman, 1994, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,168,053 and 5,624,824), hairpin ribozyme structures (Berzal-Herranz et al., 1992; Chowrira et al., 1993) and Hepatitis Delta virus based ribozymes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,047). The general design and optimization of ribozyme directed RNA cleavage activity has been discussed in detail (Haseloff and Gerlach, 1988, Symons, 1992, Chowrira et al., 1994; Thompson et al., 1995).

The other variable on ribozyme design is the selection of a cleavage site on a given target RNA. Ribozymes are targeted to a given sequence by virtue of annealing to a site by complimentary base pair interactions. Two stretches of homology are required for this targeting. These stretches of homologous sequences flank the catalytic ribozyme structure defined above. Each stretch of homologous sequence can vary in length from 7 to 15 nucleotides. The only requirement for defining the homologous sequences is that, on the target RNA, they are separated by a specific sequence which is the cleavage site. For hammerhead ribozyme, the cleavage site is a dinucleotide sequence on the target RNA is a uracil (U) followed by either an adenine, cytosine or uracil (A,C or U) (Perriman et al., 1992; Thompson et al., 1995). The frequency of this dinucleotide occurring in any given RNA is statistically 3 out of 16. Therefore, for a given target messenger RNA of 1,000 bases, 187 dinucleotide cleavage sites are statistically possible.

Designing and testing ribozymes for efficient cleavage of a target RNA is a process well known to those skilled in the art. Examples of scientific methods for designing and testing ribozymes are described by Chowrira et al., (1994) and Lieber and Strauss (1995), each incorporated by reference. The identification of operative and preferred sequences for use in down regulating a given gene is simply a matter of preparing and testing a given sequence, and is a routinely practiced “screening” method known to those of skill in the art.

3. Induction of Gene Silencing

It also is possible that genes may be introduced to produce novel transgenic plants which have reduced expression of a native gene product by the mechanism of co-suppression. It has been demonstrated in tobacco, tomato, and petunia (Goring et al., 1991; Smith et al., 1990; Napoli et al., 1990; van der Krol et al., 1990) that expression of the sense transcript of a native gene will reduce or eliminate expression of the native gene in a manner similar to that observed for antisense genes. The introduced gene may encode all or part of the targeted native protein but its translation may not be required for reduction of levels of that native protein.

4. Non-RNA-Expressing Sequences

DNA elements including those of transposable elements such as Ds, Ac, or Mu, may be inserted into a gene to cause mutations. These DNA elements may be inserted in order to inactivate (or activate) a gene and thereby “tag” a particular trait. In this instance the transposable element does not cause instability of the tagged mutation, because the utility of the element does not depend on its ability to move in the genome. Once a desired trait is tagged, the introduced DNA sequence may be used to clone the corresponding gene, e.g., using the introduced DNA sequence as a PCR primer together with PCR gene cloning techniques (Shapiro, 1983; Dellaporta et al., 1988). Once identified, the entire gene(s) for the particular trait, including control or regulatory regions where desired, may be isolated, cloned and manipulated as desired. The utility of DNA elements introduced into an organism for purposes of gene tagging is independent of the DNA sequence and does not depend on any biological activity of the DNA sequence, i.e., transcription into RNA or translation into protein. The sole function of the DNA element is to disrupt the DNA sequence of a gene.

It is contemplated that unexpressed DNA sequences, including novel synthetic sequences, could be introduced into cells as proprietary “labels” of those cells and plants and seeds thereof. It would not be necessary for a label DNA element to disrupt the function of a gene endogenous to the host organism, as the sole function of this DNA would be to identify the origin of the organism. For example, one could introduce a unique DNA sequence into a plant and this DNA element would identify all cells, plants, and progeny of these cells as having arisen from that labeled source. It is proposed that inclusion of label DNAs would enable one to distinguish proprietary germplasm or germplasm derived from such, from unlabelled germplasm.

Another possible element which may be introduced is a matrix attachment region element (MAR), such as the chicken lysozyme A element (Stief, 1989), which can be positioned around an expressible gene of interest to effect an increase in overall expression of the gene and diminish position dependent effects upon incorporation into the plant genome (Stief et al., 1989; Phi-Van et al., 1990).

5. Other

Other examples of non-protein expressing sequences specifically envisioned for use with the invention include tRNA sequences, for example, to alter codon usage, and rRNA variants, for example, which may confer resistance to various agents such as antibiotics.

IX. Biological Functional Equivalents

Modification and changes may be made in the centromeric DNA segments of the current invention and still obtain a functional molecule with desirable characteristics. The following is a discussion based upon changing the nucleic acids of a centromere to create an equivalent, or even an improved, second-generation molecule.

In particular embodiments of the invention, mutated centromeric sequences are contemplated to be useful for increasing the utility of the centromere. It is specifically contemplated that the function of the centromeres of the current invention may be based upon the secondary structure of the DNA sequences of the centromere and/or the proteins which interact with the centromere. By changing the DNA sequence of the centromere, one may alter the affinity of one or more centromere-associated protein(s) for the centromere and/or the secondary structure of the centromeric sequences, thereby changing the activity of the centromere. Alternatively, changes may be made in the centromeres of the invention which do not effect the activity of the centromere. Changes in the centromeric sequences which reduce the size of the DNA segment needed to confer centromere activity are contemplated to be particularly useful in the current invention, as would changes which increased the fidelity with which the centromere was transmitted during mitosis and meiosis.

X. Plants

The term “plant,” as used herein, refers to any type of plant. The inventors have provided below an exemplary description of some plants that may be used with the invention. However, the list is not in any way limiting, as other types of plants will be known to those of skill in the art and could be used with the invention.

A common class of plants exploited in agriculture are vegetable crops, including artichokes, kohlrabi, arugula, leeks, asparagus, lettuce (e.g., head, leaf, romaine), bok choy, malanga, broccoli, melons (e.g., muskmelon, watermelon, crenshaw, honeydew, cantaloupe), brussels sprouts, cabbage, cardoni, carrots, napa, cauliflower, okra, onions, celery, parsley, chick peas, parsnips, chicory, chinese cabbage, peppers, collards, potatoes, cucumber plants (marrows, cucumbers), pumpkins, cucurbits, radishes, dry bulb onions, rutabaga, eggplant, salsify, escarole, shallots, endive, garlic, spinach, green onions, squash, greens, beet (sugar beet and fodder beet), sweet potatoes, swiss chard, horseradish, tomatoes, kale, turnips, and spices.

Other types of plants frequently finding commercial use include fruit and vine in crops such as apples, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, quince almonds, chestnuts, filberts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, citrus, blueberries, boysenberries, cranberries, currants, loganberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, avocados, bananas, kiwi, persimmons, pomegranate, pineapple, tropical fruits, pomes, melon, mango, papaya, and lychee.

Many of the most widely grown plants are field crop plants such as evening primrose, meadow foam, corn (field, sweet, popcorn), hops, jojoba, peanuts, rice, safflower, small grains (barley, oats, rye, wheat, etc.), sorghum, tobacco, kapok, leguminous plants (beans, lentils, peas, soybeans), oil plants (rape, mustard, poppy, olives, sunflowers, coconut, castor oil plants, cocoa beans, groundnuts), fibre plants (cotton, flax, hemp, jute), lauraceae (cinnamon, camphor), or plants such as coffee, sugarcane, tea, and natural rubber plants.

Still other examples of plants include bedding plants such as flowers, cactus, succulents and ornamental plants, as well as trees such as forest (broad-leaved trees and evergreens, such as conifers), fruit, ornamental, and nut-bearing trees, as well as shrubs and other nursery stock.

XI. Definitions

As used herein, the terms “autonomous replicating sequence” or “ARS” or “origin of replications” refer to an origin of DNA replication recognized by proteins that initiate DNA replication.

As used herein, the terms “binary BAC” or “binary bacterial artificial chromosome” refer to a bacterial vector that contains the T-DNA border sequences necessary for Agrobacterium mediated transformation (see, for example, Hamilton et al., 1996; Hamilton, 1997; and Liu et al., 1999.

As used herein, the term “candidate centromere sequence” refers to a nucleic acid sequence which one wishes to assay for potential centromere function.

As used herein, a “centromere” is any DNA sequence that confers an ability to segregate to daughter cells through cell division. In one context, this sequence may produce a segregation efficiency to daughter cells ranging from about 1% to about 100%, including to about 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or about 95% of daughter cells. Variations in such a segregation efficiency may find important applications within the scope of the invention; for example, mini-chromosomes carrying centromeres that confer 100% stability could be maintained in all daughter cells without selection, while those that confer 1% stability could be temporarily introduced into a transgenic organism, but be eliminated when desired. In particular embodiments of the invention, the centromere may confer stable segregation of a nucleic acid sequence, including a recombinant construct comprising the centromere, through mitotic or meiotic divisions, including through both meiotic and meitotic divisions. A plant centromere is not necessarily derived from plants, but has the ability to promote DNA segregation in plant cells.

As used herein, the term “centromere-associated protein” refers to a protein encoded by a sequence of the centromere or a protein which is encoded by host DNA and binds with relatively high affinity to the centromere.

As used herein, “eukaryote” refers to living organisms whose cells contain nuclei. A eukaryote may be distinguished from a “prokaryote” which is an organism which lacks nuclei. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes differ fundamentally in the way their genetic information is organized, as well as their patterns of RNA and protein synthesis.

As used herein, the term “expression” refers to the process by which a structural gene produces an RNA molecule, typically termed messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA is typically, but not always, translated into polypeptide(s).

As used herein, the term “genome” refers to all of the genes and DNA sequences that comprise the genetic information within a given cell of an organism. Usually, this is taken to mean the information contained within the nucleus, but also includes the organelles.

As used herein, the term “higher eukaryote” means a multicellular eukaryote, typically characterized by its greater complex physiological mechanisms and relatively large size. Generally, complex organisms such as plants and animals are included in this category. Preferred higher eukaryotes to be transformed by the present invention include, for example, monocot and dicot angiosperm species, gymnosperm species, fern species, plant tissue culture cells of these species, animal cells and algal cells. It will of course be understood that prokaryotes and eukaryotes alike may be transformed by the methods of this invention.

As used herein, the term “host” refers to any organism that is the recipient of a replicable plasmid, or expression vector comprising a plant chromosome. Ideally, host strains used for cloning experiments should be free of any restriction enzyme activity that might degrade the foreign DNA used. Preferred examples of host cells for cloning, useful in the present invention, are bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Salmonella, and yeast cells such as S. cerevisiae. Host cells which can be targeted for expression of a minichromosome may be plant cells of any source and specifically include Arabidopsis, maize, rice, sugarcane, sorghum, barley, soybeans, tobacco, wheat, tomato, potato, citrus, or any other agronomically or scientifically important species.

As used herein, the term “hybridization” refers to the pairing of complementary RNA and DNA strands to produce an RNA-DNA hybrid, or alternatively, the pairing of two DNA single strands from genetically different or the same sources to produce a double stranded DNA molecule.

As used herein, the term “linker” refers to a DNA molecule, generally up to 50 or 60 nucleotides long and synthesized chemically, or cloned from other vectors. In a preferred embodiment, this fragment contains one, or preferably more than one, restriction enzyme site for a blunt-cutting enzyme and a staggered-cutting enzyme, such as BamHI. One end of the linker fragment is adapted to be ligatable to one end of the linear molecule and the other end is adapted to be ligatable to the other end of the linear molecule.

As used herein, a “library” is a pool of random DNA fragments which are cloned. In principle, any gene can be isolated by screening the library with a specific hybridization probe (see, for example, Young et al., 1977). Each library may contain the DNA of a given organism inserted as discrete restriction enzyme-generated fragments or as randomly sheered fragments into many thousands of plasmid vectors. For purposes of the present invention, E. coli, yeast, and Salmonella plasmids are particularly useful when the genome inserts come from other organisms.

As used herein, the term “lower eukaryote” refers to a eukaryote characterized by a comparatively simple physiology and composition, and most often unicellularity. Examples of lower eukaryotes include flagellates, ciliates, and yeast.

As used herein, a “minichromosome” is a recombinant DNA construct including a centromere and capable of transmission to daughter cells. The stability of this construct through cell division could range between from about 1% to about 100%, including about 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and about 95%. The minichromosome construct may be a circular or linear molecule. It may include elements such as one or more telomeres, ARS sequences, and genes. The number of such sequences included is only limited by the physical size limitations of the construct itself. It could contain DNA derived from a natural centromere, although it may be preferable to limit the amount of DNA to the minimal amount required to obtain a segregation efficiency in the range of 1-100%. The minichromosome may be inherited through mitosis or meiosis, or through both meiosis and mitosis. As used herein, the term minichromosome specifically encompasses and includes the terms “plant artificial chromosome” or “PLAC,” and all teachings relevant to a PLAC or plant artificial chromosome specifically apply to constructs within the meaning of the term minichromosome.

As used herein, by “minichromosome-encoded protein” it is meant a polypeptide which is encoded by a sequence of a minichromosome of the current invention. This includes sequences such as selectable markers, telomeres, etc., as well as those proteins encoded by any other selected functional genes on the minichromosome.

A “180 base pair repeat” is defined as any one of the specific repeats disclosed in SEQ ID NOS:184-212, or a “consensus” sequence derived therefrom. Thus, a given “180 base pair repeat” may include more or less than 180 base pairs, and may reflect a sequence not represented by any of the specific sequences provided herein.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant calli, and the like, as well as whole plants regenerated therefrom.

As used herein, the term “plasmid” or “cloning vector” refers to a closed covalently circular extrachromosomal DNA or linear DNA which is able to autonomously replicate in a host cell and which is normally nonessential to the survival of the cell. A wide variety of plasmids and other vectors are known and commonly used in the art (see, for example, Cohen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,464, which discloses examples of DNA plasmids, and which is specifically incorporated herein by reference).

As used herein, a “probe” is any biochemical reagent (usually tagged in some way for ease of identification), used to identify or isolate a gene, a gene product, a DNA segment or a protein.

As used herein, the term “recombination” refers to any genetic exchange that involves breaking and rejoining of DNA strands.

As used herein the term “regulatory sequence” refers to any DNA sequence that influences the efficiency of transcription or translation of any gene. The term includes, but is not limited to, sequences comprising promoters, enhancers and terminators.

As used herein, a “selectable marker” is a gene whose presence results in a clear phenotype, and most often a growth advantage for cells that contain the marker. This growth advantage may be present under standard conditions, altered conditions such as elevated temperature, or in the presence of certain chemicals such as herbicides or antibiotics. Use of selectable markers is described, for example, in Broach et al. (1979). Examples of selectable markers include the thyridine kinase gene, the cellular adenine-phosphoribosyltransferase gene and the dihydrylfolate reductase gene, hygromycin phosphotransferase genes, the bar gene and neomycin phosphotransferase genes, among others. Preferred selectable markers in the present invention include genes whose expression confer antibiotic or herbicide resistance to the host cell, sufficient to enable the maintenance of a vector within the host cell, and which facilitate the manipulation of the plasmid into new host cells. Of particular interest in the present invention are proteins conferring cellular resistance to ampicillin, chloramnphenicol, tetracycline, GA418, bialaphos, and glyphosate for example.

As used herein, a “screenable marker” is a gene whose presence results in an identifiable phenotype. This phenotype may be observable under standard conditions, altered conditions such as elevated temperature, or in the presence of certain chemicals used to detect the phenotype.

As used herein, the term “site-specific recombination” refers to any genetic exchange that involves breaking and rejoining of DNA strands at a specific DNA sequence.

As used herein, a “structural gene” is a sequence which codes for a polypeptide or RNA and includes 5′ and 3′ ends. The structural gene may be from the host into which the structural gene is transformed or from another species. A structural gene will preferably, but not necessarily, include one or more regulatory sequences which modulate the expression of the structural gene, such as a promoter, terminator or enhancer. A structural gene will preferably, but not necessarily, confer some useful phenotype upon an organism comprising the structural gene, for example, herbicide resistance. In one embodiment of the invention, a structural gene may encode an RNA sequence which is not translated into a protein, for example a tRNA or rRNA gene.

As used herein, the term “telomere” refers to a sequence capable of capping the ends of a chromosome, thereby preventing degradation of the chromosome end, ensuring replication and preventing fusion to other chromosome sequences.

As used herein, the terms “transformation” or “transfection” refer to the acquisition in cells of new DNA sequences through the chromosomal or extra-chromosomal addition of DNA. This is the process by which naked DNA, DNA coated with protein, or whole minichromosomes are introduced into a cell, resulting in a potentially heritable change.

XII. EXAMPLES

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skilled the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventors to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Example 1 Generation of an Arabidopsis thaliana Mapping Population

To generate a pollen donor plant, two parental lines carrying qrtl were crossed to one another. The qrtl-1 allele was in the Landsberg ecotype background and the qrtl-2 allele was in the Columbia ecotype background. The Landsberg ecotype was readily discernible from the Columbia ecotype because it carries a recessive mutation, erecta, which causes the stems to thicken, infloresences to be more compact, and the leaves to be more rounded and small than wildtype. To utilize this as a marker of a donor plant, qrtl-2 pollen was crossed onto a qrtl-1 female stigma. The F₁ progeny were heterozygous at all molecular markers yet the progeny retain the quartet phenotype of a tetrad of fused pollen grains. In addition, progeny display the ERECTA phenotype of the Columbia plant. This visible marker serves as an indication that the crossing was successful in generating plants segregating ecotype specific markers. Further testing was done to the donor plants by performing PCR analysis to insure that progeny were heterozygous at molecular loci.

Due to the fact that the pollen grains cannot be directly assayed for marker segregation and because of the desire to create a long-term resource available for multiple marker assays, it was necessary to cross individual tetrads generated by the donor plant. This created sets of progeny plants which yielded both large quantities of tissue and seed. These crosses were accomplished efficiently by generating a recipient plant homozygous for male sterility (ms1). The recessive mutant ms1 was chosen to guard against the possibility of the recipient plant self-fertilizing and the progeny being mistaken for tetrad plants. Due to the fact that the homozygous plant does not self, a stock seed generated by a heterozygous male sterility 1 plant needs to be maintained from which sterile recipient plants can be selected.

Example 2 Tetrad Pollinations

Tetrad pollinations were carried out as follows. A mature flower was removed from the donor plant and tapped upon a glass microscope slide to release mature tetrad pollen grains. This slide was then placed under a 20-40× Zeiss dissecting microscope. To isolate individual tetrad pollen grains, a small wooden dowel was used to which an eyebrow hair with rubber cement was mounted. Using the light microscope, a tetrad pollen unit was chosen and touched to the eyebrow hair. The tetrad preferentially adhered to the eyebrow hair and was thus lifted from the microscope slide and transported the recipient plant stigmatic surface. The transfer was carried out without the use of the microscope, and the eyebrow hair with adhering tetrad was then placed against the recipient stigmatic surface and the hair was manually dragged across the stigma surface. The tetrad then preferentially adhered to the stigma of the recipient and the cross pollination was completed.

Initially, 57 tetrad seed sets consisting of 34 seeds each, were collected. Plants were grown from these tetrad seed sets, and tissue was collected. DNA was extracted from a small portion of the stored tissue for PCR based segregation analysis. Additionally the segregation of the visible erecta phenotype was scored. When the plants set seed, the seed was collected as a source for the larger amounts of DNA required to analyze RFLP segregation by Southern blotting.

Example 3 Preparation and Analysis of Centromere-Spanning Contigs

Previously, DNA fingerprint and hybridization analysis of two bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries led to the assembly of physical maps covering nearly all single-copy portions of the Arabidopsis genome (Marra et al., 1999). However, the presence of repetitive DNA near the Arabidopsis centromeres, including 180 bp repeats, retroelements, and middle repetitive sequences complicated efforts to anchor centromeric BAC contigs to particular chromosomes (Murata et al., 1997; Heslop-Harrison et al., 1999; Brandes et al., 1997; Franz et al., 1998; Wright et al., 1996; Konieczny et al., 1991; Pelissier et al, 1995; Voytas and Ausubel, 1988; Chye et al., 1997; Tsay et al., 1993; Richards et al., 1991; Simoens et al., 1988; Thompson et al., 1996; Pelissier et al., 1996). The inventors used genetic mapping to unambiguously assign these unanchored contigs to ±20 specific centromeres, scoring polymorphic markers in 48 plants with crossovers informative for the entire genome (Copenhaver et al., 1998). In this manner, several centromeric contigs were connected to the physical maps of the chromosome arms (see EXAMPLE 6 and Table 4), and a large set of DNA markers defining centromere boundaries were generated. DNA sequence analysis confirmed the structure of the contigs for chromosomes II and IV (Lin et al., 1999).

CEN2 and CEN4 were selected in particular for analysis. Both reside on structurally similar chromosomes with a 3.5 Mb rDNA arrays on their distal tips, with regions measuring 3 and 2 Mb, respectively, between the rDNA and centromeres, and 16 and 13 Mb regions on their long arms (Copenhaver and Pikaard, 1996).

The virtually complete and annotated sequence of chromosomes II and IV was used to conduct an analysis of centromeres at the nucleotide level (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/nucleotide.html). The sequence composition was analyzed within the genetically-defined centromere boundaries and compared to the adjacent pericentromeric regions (FIGS. 12A-T). Analysis of the two centromeres facilitated comparisons of sequence patterns and identification of conserved sequence elements.

The centromere sequences were found to harbour 180 bp repeat sequences. These sequences were found to reside in the gaps of each centromeric contig (FIG. 3, FIGS. 12B, 12L), with few repeats and no long arrays elsewhere in the genome. BAC clones near these gaps have end sequences corresponding to repetitive elements that likely constitute the bulk of the DNA between the contigs, including 180 bp repeats, 5S rDNa or 160-bp repeats (FIG. 3). Fluorescent in situ hybridization has shown these repetitive sequences w3 are abundant components of Arabidopsis centromeres (Murata et al, 1997; Heslop-Harrison et al., 1999; Brandes et al., 1997). Genetic mapping and pulsed-field a gel electrophoresis indicate that many 180 bp repeats reside in long arrays measuring between 0.4 and 1.4 Mb in the centromeric regions (Round et al., 1997); sequence analysis revealed additional interspersed copies near the gaps. The inventors specifically contemplate the use of such 180 bp repeats for the construction of minichromosomes. The annotated sequence of chromosomes II and IV identified regions with homology to middle repetitive DNA, both within the functional centromeres and in the adjacent regions (FIGS. 12B-12E and 12L-12O).

In a 4.3 Mb sequenced region that includes CEN2 and a 2.8 Mb sequenced region that includes CEN4, retrotransposon homology was found to account for >10% of the DNA sequence, with a maximum of 62% and 70%, respectively (FIGS. 12C, 12M). Sequences with similarity to transposons or middle repetitive elements were found to occupy a similar zone, but were less common (29% and 11% maximum density for chromosomes II and IV respectively (FIGS. 12D-12E and FIGS. 12N-12O). Finally, unlike in the case of Drosophila and Neurospora centromeres (Sun et al., 1997; Cambareri et al., 1998) low complexity DNA, including microsatellites, homopolymer tracts, and AT rich isochores, were not found to be enriched in the centromeres of Arabidopsis. Near CEN2, simple repeat sequence densities were comparable to those on the distal chromosome arms, occupying 1.5% of the sequence within the centromere, 3.2% in the flanking regions, and ranging from 20 to 319 bp in length (71 bp on average). Except for an insertion of mitochondrial DNA at CEN2 the DNA in and around the centromeres did not contain any large regions that deviated significantly from the genomic average of ˜64% A+T (FIGS. 12F, 12P) (Bevan et al., 1999).

Unlike the 180 bp repeats, all other repetitive elements near. CEN2 and CEN4 were less abundant within the genetically-defined centromeres than in the flanking regions. The high concentration of repetitive elements outside of the functional centromere domain suggest they may be insufficient for centromere activity. Thus, identifying segments of the Arabidopsis genome that are enriched in these repetitive a sequences does not pinpoint the regions that provide centromere function; a similar situation may occur in the genomes of other higher eukaryotes.

The repetitive DNA flanking the centromeres may play an important role, forming an altered chromatin conformation that serves to nucleate or stabilize centromere structure. Alternatively, other mechanisms could result in the accumulation of repetitive elements near centromeres. Though evolutionary models predict repetitive DNA accumulates in regions of low recombination (Charlesworth et al., 1986;. Charlesworth et al., 1994), many Arabidopsis repetitive elements are more abundant in the recombinationally active pericentromeric regions than in the centromeres themselves. Instead, retroelements and other transposons may preferentially insert into regions flanking the centromeres or be eliminated from the rest of the genome at a higher rate.

Example 4 Genetic Mapping of Centromeres

To map centromeres, F₁ plants which were heterozygous for hundreds of polymorphic DNA markers were generated by crossing quartet mutants from the Landsberg and Columbia ecotypes (Chang et al. 1988; Ecker, 1994; Konieczy and Ausubel, 1993). In tetrads from these plants, genetic markers segregate in a 2:2 ratio (FIG. 6; Preuss et al. 1994). The segregation of markers was then determined in plants which were generated by crossing pollen tetrads from the F₁ plants onto a Landsberg homozygote. The genotype of the pollen grains within a tetrad was inferred from the genotype of the progeny. Initially, seeds were generated from greater than 100 successful tetrad pollinations, and tissue and seeds were collected from 57 of these. This provided sufficient material for PCR, as well as seeds necessary for producing the large quantities of tissue required for Southern hybridization and RFLP mapping. In order to obtain a more precise localization of the centromeres the original tetrad population was increased from 57 tetrads to over >1,000 tetrads.

PCR analysis was performed to determine marker segregation. To account for the contribution of the Landsberg background from the female parent, one Landsberg complement from each of the four tetrad plants was subtracted. As shown in FIG. 5, markers from sites spanning the entire genome were used for pair-wise comparisons of all other markers. Tetratypes indicate a crossover between one or both markers and their centromeres where as ditypes indicate the absence of crossovers (or presence of a double crossover).

Thus, at every genetic locus, the resulting diploid progeny was either L/C or C/C. The map generated with these plants is based solely on male meioses, unlike the existing map, which represents an average of recombination's in both males and females. Therefore, several well-established genetic distances were recalculated and thus will determine whether recombination frequencies are significantly altered.

The large quantities of genetic data generated by the analysis must be compared pair-wise to perform tetrad analysis. All of the data was managed in a Microsoft Excel spread-sheet format, assigning Landsberg alleles a value of “1” and Columbia alleles a value of “0. Within a tetrad, the segregation of markers on one chromosome was compared to centromere-linked reference loci on a different chromosome (see Table 2 below). Multiplying the values of each locus by an appropriate reference, and adding the results for each tetrad easily distinguished PD, NPD, and TT tetrads with values of 2, 0, and 1, respectively.

Monitoring the position of crossovers in this population identified chromosomal regions that could be separated by recombination from centromeres (tetratype), as well as regions that always cosegregated with centromeres (ditype) (Copenhaver et al., 1998; Copenhaver et al, 1999). Tetratype frequencies decrease to zero at the centromere; consequently, centromere boundaries were defined as the positions that exhibited small but detectable numbers of tetratype patterns. By scoring the segregation of centromere linked markers in approximately 400 tetrads, centromeres 1-5 were localized to regions on the physical map corresponding to contigs of 550, 1445, 1600, 1790 and 1770 kb, respectively (FIG. 3). Additionally, for each centromeric interval, a number of useful recombinants were identified. The results of the analysis indicated that centromeres reside within large domains that restrict recombination machinery activity and that the transition between these domains and the surrounding recombination-proficient DNA is markedly abrupt. TABLE 2 Scoring protocol for tetratypes. Indi- vid- ual mem- bers of a Reference Reference Reference tetrad Locus 1 Locus Locus 2 Locus Locus 3 Locus A 1 × 1 = 1 0 × 1 = 0 0 × 1 = 0 B 1 × 1 = 1 0 × 1 = 0 1 × 1 = 1 C 0 × 0 = 0 1 × 0 = 0 0 × 0 = 0 D 0 × 0 = 0 1 × 0 = 0 1 × 0 = 0 2 0 1 PD NPD TT

Analysis of polymorphisms corresponding to 180 bp repeats (RCEN markers, Round et al, 1997) confirmed that these repeats map within the genetically-defined centromeres. Polymorphisms associated with the 180 bp repeats were analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis as described previously (Round et al., 1997). Segregation of these polymorphisms in tetrads with informative crossovers confirmed complete linkage of a 180 bp repeat array at each centromere. In genetic units, the centromere intervals averaged 0.44 cM, (% recombination=½ tetratype frequency), reflecting recombination rates at least 10-30 fold below the genomic average of 221 kb/cM (Somerville and Somerville, 1999; http://nasc.nott.ac.uk/new_ri_map.html).

The low recombination frequencies typically observed near higher eukaryotic centromeres may be due to DNA modifications or unusual chromatin states (Choo, 1998; Puechberty, 1999; Mahtani and Willard, 1998; Charlesworth et al., 1986; Charlesworth et al., 1994). To modify these states, and thus improve centromere mapping resolution by raising recombination frequencies, F1 Landsberg/Columbia plants were treated with one of a series of compounds known to cause DNA damage, modify chromatin structure, or alter DNA modifications. F1 Landsberg qrt/Columbia qrt1 plants were grown under 24 hour light in 1″ square pots and treated with methanesulfonic acid ethyl ester (0.05%), 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (25 or 100 mgAl), Zeocin (1 ug/ml), methanesulfonic acid methyl ester (75 ppm), cis-diamminedichloro-platinum (20 ug/ml), mitomycin C (10 mg/l), n-nitroso-n-ethylurea (100 uM), n-butyric acid (20 uM), trichostatin A (10 uM), or 3-methoxybenzamide (2 mM). Plants were watered and flower-bearing stems were immersed in these solutions. Alternatively, plants were exposed to 350 nm UV (7 or 10 seconds), or heat shock (38 or 42° C. for 2 hours). Pollen tetrads from these plants were used to pollinate Landsberg stigmas 3-5 days after each treatment; the F1 plants were subsequently subjected to additional treatments (up to 5 times per plant, every 3-5 days).

Tetrads from treated plants were crossed to Landsberg stigmas, and progeny from 8-107 tetrads subjected to each treatment were recovered and analyzed, yielding >600 additional tetrads. These tetrads exhibited higher recombination in regions immediately flanking the centromeres (1.6 vs. 3.4% recombination in untreated and treated plants, respectively), although the sample size was insufficient to determine if any individual treatment had a profound affect. The map locations of centromeres were refined on chromosomes 2 to 5 (FIG. 1), yielding intervals spanned by contigs of 880, 1150, 1260, and 1070 kb, respectively, with all tetrads consistently localizing centromere functions to the same region (Copenhaver et al., 1999).

Efforts to increase recombination yielded a large number of tetrads with crossovers near the centromeres; these crossovers clustered within a narrow region at the centromere boundaries. Five crossovers occurred over a 70 kb region near CEN2, and 7 over a 200 kb region near CEN1, yet no crossovers were detected in the adjacent centromeric intervals of 880 and 550 kb respectively (FIG. 3). Thus, the centromeres were found within large domains that restrict recombination machinery activity; the transition between these domains and surrounding, recombination-proficient DNA is remarkably abrupt (FIGS. 12A and K). Although analysis of more tetrads would yield additional recombination events, the observed distribution of crossovers indicate that centromere positions would not be significantly refined.

Example 5 Sequence Analysis of Arabidopsis Centromeres

A. Abundance of Genes in the Centromeric Regions

Expressed genes are located within 1 kb of essential centromere sequences in S. cerevisiae, and multiple copies of tRNA genes reside within an 80 kb fragment necessary for centromere function in S. pombe (Kuhn et al., 1991). In contrast, genes are thought to be relatively rare in the centromeres of higher eukaryotes, though there are notable exceptions. The Drosophila light, concertina, responder, and rolled loci all map to the centromeric region of chromosome 2, and translocations that remove light from its native heterochromatic context inhibit gene expression. In contrast, many Drosophila and human genes that normally reside in euchromatin become inactive when they are inserted near a centromere. Thus, genes that reside near centromeres likely have special control elements that allow expression (Karpen, 1994; Lohe and Hilliker, 1995). The sequences of Arabidopsis CEN2 and CEN4, provided herein, provide a powerful resource for understanding how gene density and expression correlate with centromere position and associated chromatin.

Annotation of chromosome II and IV (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/nucleotide.html) identified many genes within and adjacent to CEN2 and CEN4 (FIG. 8, FIGS. 12A-12T). The density of predicted genes on Arabidopsis chromosome arms averages 25 per 100 kb, and in the repeat-rich regions flanking CEN2 and CEN4 this decreases to 9 and 7 genes per 100 kb, respectively (Bevan et al., 1999). Many predicted genes also reside within the recombination-deficient, genetically-defined centromeres. Within CEN2, there were 5 predicted genes per 100 kb; while CEN4 was strikingly different, with 12 genes per 100 kb.

There was strong evidence that several of the predicted centromeric genes are transcribed. The phosphoenolpyruvate gene (CUE1) defines one CEN5 border; mutations in this gene cause defects in light-regulated gene expression (L1 et al., 1995). Within the sequenced portions of CEN2 and CEN4, 17% (27/160) of the predicted genes shared >95% identity with cloned cDNAs (ESTs), with three-fold more matches in CEN4 than in CEN2 (http://www.tigr.org/tdb/at/agad/). Twenty-four of these genes have multiple exons, and four correspond to single-copy genes with known functions. A list of the predicted genes identified is given in Table 3, below. A list of additional genes encoded within the boundaries of CEN4 are listed in Table 4. The identification of these genes is significant in that the genes may themselves contain unique regulatory elements or may reside in genomic locations flanking unique control or regulatory elements involved in centromere function or gene expression. In particular, the current inventors contemplate use of these genes, or DNA sequences 0 to 5 kb upstream or downstream of these sequences, for insertion into a gene of choice in a minichromosome. It is expected that such elements could potentially yield beneficial regulatory controls of the expression of these genes, even when in the unique environment of a centromere.

To investigate whether the remaining 23 genes were uniquely encoded at the centromere, a search was made in the database of annotated genomic Arabidopsis sequences. With the exception of two genes, no homologs with >95% identity were found elsewhere in the 80% of the genome that has been sequenced. The number of independent cDNA clones that correspond to a single-copy gene provides an estimate of the level of gene expression. On chromosome II, predicted genes with high quality matches to the cDNA database (>95% identity) match an average of four independent cDNA clones (range 1-78). Within CEN2 and CEN4, 11127 genes exceed this average (Table 3). Finally, genes encoded at CEN2 and CEN4 are not members of a single gene family, nor do they correspond to genes predicted to play a role in centromere functions, but instead have diverse roles.

Many genes in the Arabidopsis centromeric regions are nonfunctional due to early stop codons or disrupted open reading frames, but few pseudogenes were found on the chromosome arms. Though a large fraction of these pseudogenes have homology to a mobile elements, many correspond to genes that are typically not mobile (FIGS. 12I-J and FIGS. 12S-T). Within the genetically-defined centromeres there were 1.0 (CEN2) and 0.7 (CEN4) of these nonmobile pseudogenes per 100 kb; the repeat-rich regions bordering the centromeres have 1.5 and 0.9 per 100 kb respectively. The distributions of pseudogenes and transposable elements are overlapping, indicting that DNA insertions in these regions contributed to gene disruptions. TABLE 3 Predicted genes within CEN2 and CEN4 that correspond to the cDNA database. GenBank protein # of EST Putative function accession matches* CEN2 Unknown AAC69124 1 SH3 domain protein AAD15528 5 Unknown AAD15529 1 unknown† AAD37022 1 RNA helicase‡ AAC26676 2 40S ribosomal protein S16 AAD22696 9 CEN4 Unknown AAD36948 1 Unknown AAD36947 4 leucyl tRNA synthetase AAD36946 4 aspartic protease AAD29758 6 Peroxisomal membrane protein (PPM2)§ AAD29759 5 5′-adenylylsulfate reductase§ AAD29775 14 symbiosis-related protein AAD29776 3 ATP synthase gamma chain 1 (APC1)§ AAD48955 3 protein kinase and EF hand AAD03453 3 ABC transporter AAD03441 1 Transcriptional regulator AAD03444 14 Unknown AAD03446 12 human PCF11p homolog AAD03447 6 NSF protein AAD17345 2 1,3-beta-glucan synthase AAD48971 2 pyridine nucleotide-disulphide oxidoreductase AAD48975 4 Polyubiquitin (UBQ11)§ AAD48980 72 wound induced protein AAD48981 6 short chain dehydrogenase/reductase AAD48959 7 SL15† AAD48939 2 WD40-repeat protein AAD48948 2 *Independent cDNAs with >95% identity, †related gene present in non-centromeric DNA, ‡potentially associated with a mobile DNA element, §characterized gene (B. Tugal, 1999; J. F. Gutierrez-Marcos, 1996; N. Inohara, 1991; J. Callis, 1995).

TABLE 4 List of additional genes encoded within the boundaries of CEN4. GenBank Nucleotide Putative Function accession Position 3′(2′),5′-Bisphosphate Nucleotidase AC012392 71298-73681 Transcriptional regultor AC012392 80611-81844 Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 AC012392 88570-90739 Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 AC012392 94940-96878 Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 AC012392  98929-101019 Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 AC012392 113069-115262 unknown AC012392 122486-124729 4-coumarate—CoA ligase AC012392 126505-128601 ethylene responsive protein AC012392 130044-131421 Oxygen-evolving enhancer AC012392 134147-135224 protein precursor Kinesin AC012392 137630-141536 receptor-like protein kinase AC012392 141847-144363 LpxD-like protein AC012392 144921-146953 hypersensitivity induced protein AC012392 147158-147838 ubiquitin AC012392 149057-149677 unknown AC012392 150254-151072 ubiquitin-like protein AC012392 153514-154470 ubiquitin-like protein AC012392 155734-156513 ubiquitin-like protein AC012392 156993-157382 unknown AC012392 159635-165559 unknown AC012392 166279-166920 unknown AC012392 167724-170212 ubiquitin-like protein AC012392 176819-178066 polyubiquitin (UBQ10)§ AC012392 180613-182007 phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate AC012477 89384-91291 binding protein Mitochondrial ATPase AC012477 94302-94677 RING-H2 finger protein AC012477 95522-96142 unknown AC012477 104747-105196 Mitochondrial ATPase AC012477 105758-106595 ferredoxin—NADP+ reductase AC012477 107451-109095 unknown AC012477 109868-110620 U3 snoRNP-associated protein AC012477 111841-114133 UV-damaged DNA binding factor AC012477 114900-121275 Glucan endo-1,3-Beta-Glucosidase AC012477 122194-122895 precursor D123 —like protein AC012477 125886-126887 Adrenodoxin Precursor AC012477 127660-129246 N7 like-protein AC012477 129718-131012 N7 like-protein AC012477 131868-133963 N7 like-protein AC012477 134215-136569 N7 like-protein AC012477 139656-140864 §characterized gene (J. Callis, 1995).

B. Conservation of Centromeric DNA

To investigate the conservation of CEN2 and CEN4 sequences, PCR primer pairs were designed that correspond to unique regions in the Columbia sequence and used to survey the centromeric regions of Landsberg and Columbia at ˜20 kb intervals (FIGS. 14A, B). The primers used for the analysis are listed in FIGS. 15A, B. Amplification products of the appropriate length were obtained in both ecotypes for most primer pairs (85%), indicating that the amplified regions were highly similar. In the remaining cases, primer pairs amplified Columbia, but not Landsberg DNA, even at very low stringencies. In these regions, additional primers were designed to determine the extent of nonhomology. In addition to a large insertion of mitochondrial DNA in CEN2, two other non-conserved regions were identified (FIGS. 14A, B). Because this DNA is absent from Landsberg centromeres, it is unlikely to be required for centromere function; consequently, the relevant portion of the centromeric sequence is reduced to 577 kb (CEN2) and 1250 kb (CEN4). The high degree of sequence conservation between Landsberg and Columbia centromeres indicated that the inhibition of recombination frequencies was not due to large regions of nonhomology, but instead was a property of the centromeres themselves.

C. Sequence Similarity Between CEN2 and CEN4

In order to discern centromere function, a search was conducted for novel sequence motifs shared between CEN2 and CEN4, excluding from the comparison retroelements, transposons, characterized centromeric repeats, and coding sequences resembling mobile genes. After masking simple repetitive sequences, including homopolymer tracts and microsatellites, contigs of unique sequence measuring 417 kb and 851 kb for CEN2 and CEN4, respectively, were compared with BLAST ail (http://blast.wustl.edu).

The comparison showed that the complex DNA within the centromere regions was not homologous over the entire sequence length. However, 16 DNA segments in CEN2 matched 11 regions in CEN4 with >60% identity (FIG. 16). The sequences were grouped into families of related sequences, and were designated AtCCS1-7 (Arabidopsis thaliana centromere conserved sequences 1-7). These sequences were not previously known to be repeated in the Arabidopsis genome. The sequences comprised a total of 17 kb (4%) of CEN2 DNA, had an average length of 1017 bp, and had an A+T content of 65%. Based on similarity, the matching sequences were sorted into groups, including two families containing 8 sequences each (AtCCS1 and AtCCS2; SEQ ID NOS: 1-14), 3 sequences from a small family encoding a putative open reading frame (AtCCS3; SEQ ID NOS:21-22)), and 4 sequences found once within the centromeres (AtCCS4-AtCCS7; SEQ ID NOS:15-20), one of which (AtCCS6; SEQ ID NO:17) corresponds to predicted CEN2 and CEN4 proteins with similarity throughout their exons and introns (FIG. 16).

Searches of the Arabidopsis genomic sequence database demonstrated that AtCCS1-AtCCS5 were moderately repeated sequences that appear in centromeric and pericentromeric regions. The remaining sequences were present only in the genetically-defined centromeres. Similar comparisons of all 16 S. cerevisiae centromeres defined a consensus consisting of a conserved 8 bp CDEI motif, an AT-rich 85 bp CDEII element, and a 26 bp CDEII region with 7 highly conserved nucleotides (Fleig et al., 1995). In contrast, surveys of the three S. pombe centromeres revealed conservation of overall centromere structure, but no universally conserved motifs (Clark, 1998).

Example 6 Mapping Results: Arabidopsis Chromosomes 1-5

The centromere on chromosome 1 was mapped between mi342 (56.7 cM) and U1 T27K12 (59.1 cM). A more refined position places the centromere between the marker T22C23-t7 (˜58.5 cM) and T3P8-sp6 (˜59.1 cM). Contained within this interval are the previously described markers EKRIV and RCEN1.

The centromere on chromosome 2 was mapped between mi310 (18.6 cM) and g4133 (23.8 cM). A more refined position places the centromere between the markers F5J15-sp6 (˜19.1 cM) and T15D9 (˜19.3 cM). The following sequenced (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/nucleotide.html) BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) clones are known to span the region between the markers F5J15-sp6 and T15D9: T13E11, F27C21, F9A16, T5M2, T17H1, T18C6, T5E7, T12J2, P27B22, T6C20, T14C8, F7B 19, and T15D9.

There is a gap in BAC coverage between T12J2 and F27B22. RARE cleavage, pulse field gels or DNA sequence tiling will be used to isolate DNA in the gap for sequencing.

The centromere on chromosome 3 was mapped between atpox (48.6 cM) and ATA (53.8 cM). A more refined position places the centromere between the marker T9G9-sp6 (˜53.1 cM) and T5M14-sp6 (˜53.3 cM). Contained within this interval is the previously described marker RCEN3.

The centromere on chromosome 4 was mapped between mi233 (18.8 cM) and mi167 (21.5 cM). A more refined position places the centromere between the markers T24H24.30k3 (˜20.3 cM) and F13H14-t7 (˜21.0 cM). The following sequenced (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/nucleotide.html) BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) clones are known to span the region between the markers F5J15-sp6 and T6A13-sp6: T27D20, T19B17, T26N6, F4H6, T19J18, T4B21, T1J1, T32N4, C17L7, C6L9, F6H8, F2I12, F14G16, and F28D6.

There is a gap in BAC coverage between F2I12 and F14G16. RARE cleavage, pulse field gels or DNA sequence tiling will be used to isolate DNA in the gap for sequencing.

The centromere on chromosome 5 was mapped between nga76 (71.6 cM) and PhyC (74.3 cM). A more refined position places the centromere between the markers F13K20t7 (˜69.4 cM) and CUE1 (˜69.5 cM). Contained within this interval are the publicly available markers: um579D, mi291b, CMs1.

A table listing the BAC clones known to reside within the centromeres on chromosomes I-V given as well as Genbank Accession numbers for the sequences of these clones, is given below, in Table 5 and Table 6.

Genetic positions (i.e. cM values) correspond to the Lister and Dean Recombinant Inbred Genetic map, available on-line at http://nasc.nott.ac.uk/new_ri_map.html Markers are available at http://genome-www.stanford.edu/Arabidopsis/aboutcaps.html. TABLE 5 BAC clones residing within A. thaliana centromeres and associated Genbank accession numbers GENBANK ACCESSION # CENTROMERE 1 F24P1 B23044* F13J4 AL086967* and AL086966* F7G10 AL083686* and AL083685* F28L22 AC007505 F17A20 B23767* F13G14 AL086828* and AL086827* F13O18 AL087175* and AL087174* F24A15 AQ011599* and B98125* and B98124* F25C4 B23065* and B23064* F3A6 none T32E20 AC020646 F20O7 B22665 and B22664* F16K23 B97718* and B25748* and B23714* F8L2 AL084364* and AL084363* F6C2 AL083089* and AL083088* F1H9 AL080601* and AL080600* F27O22 AQ011488* and B25518* F15P3 B97045* and B22971* and B22970* F24O6 B23041* F20P22 AQ251396* and AQ251287* F2C1 AL081001* and AL081000* F15F11 B23547* F1F24 AL080554* and AL080553* F6J1 AL083277* F26H20 none F16J24 none F19M18 AQ011034* F20K7 AQ251392* and AQ251282* F12G6 AC007781† F23F21 none F28G17 none F28G13 none F27A14 AQ251243* and AQ251137* F28G9 B23346* and B23345* F21F1 B95997* and B22704* F16K24 B97719* and B25749* F20C15 AQ251381* and AQ251272* F9G18 AL084752* and AL084751* and B26534* F10G23 AL085268* and AL085267* F22O16 AQ250131* and AQ249777* and B96460* and B96459* and B12588* and B08235* F23P24 AQ011594* and B98116* and B98115* F24A9 AQ010513* and B96134* and B96133* F26B21 B25313* F28O19 B25706* F19J21 AQ011011* F28E13 B25592* and B25591* F24G19 B28443* F15H9 B22577* and B22576* F28A11 B25540* F26N17 B25374* F15J24 AQ011049* and B97568* F25J4 B23109* and B23108* F28P16 AQ011538* and B25713* F12E11 AL086267* and AL086266* F28G8 B23344* and B23343* F22L3 B22875* and B22874* F25C2 B23063* F22B13 B29456* and B28433* F13I14 AL086945* and AL086944* F11L16 AL085969* and AL085968* F25B1 B23057* and B23056* F26H18 AQ010880* and AQ010879* F20P4 B22672* F11K13 AL085923* and AL085922* F19G5 AQ251104* F15F7 B22200* and B22199* F16C4 B98549* and B98548* and B23399* GAP F19M16 AQ011032* F22M21 B96432* and B96431* F27K16 none F21K24 B97937* F13P3 AL087187* and AL087186* F15P18 none F28G19 B25637* F5E5 AL082645* and AL082644* F5K9 AL082841* and AL082840* F5E12 AL082657* and AL082656* F21N15 B61476* F5L13 AL082880* and AL082879* F17L20 B23905* and B23904* F14K1 AL087586* and AL087585* F16J4 B98573* F15M18 none F14I16 AL087535* and AL087534* F21K13 none F16E23 none F14O5 AL087748* and AL087747* F20G9 B22553* and B22552* F27I19 AQ011427* and B25464* F1I18 AL080658* F16C8 B98552* and B22985* F20O1 B22655* F13H12 AL086902* and AL086901* F13B12 none F27D7 none F21B16 B24625* F8F1 AL084170* and AL084169* F9A12 none F22I11 B24855* and B24854* F16N17 B25774* and B23737* F17H11 B23833* F15A12 none F20M21 none F19E19 B24191* F25O15 B25275* and B25274* F27J13 AQ011435* and B25468* F15J7 B22603* and B22602* F13J1 AL086961* and AL086960* F9D18 AC007183† F9M8 AL084923* F5I9 AL082775* F3L22 AL081822* and AL081821* F5P23 AL083021* F10O23 AL085527* and AL085526* F20J1 AQ010790* and B22625* F7K22 AL083828* and AL083827* F6J23 AL083299* and AL083298* T4I21 AC022456† F1I6 AL080639* and AL080638* F28B8 AQ010984* F20B1 B22488* and B22487* F26F14 None F18C13 B28362* F20K13 AQ011116* and B24519* F10K7 AL085379* F5A13 AC008046 F12B23 AL086177* F9I21 AL084816* and AL084815* F17I20 B23850* and B23849* CENTROMERE 2 T13E11 AC006217 F27C21 AC006527 F9A16 AC007662 T5M2 AC007730 T17H1 AC007143 T18C6 AC007729 T5E7 AC006225 T12J2 AC004483 GAP T14C8 AC006219 F7B19 AC006586 T15D9 AC007120 CENTROMERE 3 F6H5 AL083229* and AL083228* F6G13 AL083215* and AL083214* F21G23 B97922* and B24664* F3J24 B19129* and B12732* F25I7 AQ010570* and B23104* F14O12 B22064* and B22004* F1O10 AL080869* and AL080868* F11N16 AL086039* and AL086038* F19M19 none F3O1 AL081890* and AL081889* F1D9 B21602* and B21631* and AQ248831* and AL080449* and AL080450* F8F8 none F23A15 none F2O1 AL081375* and AL081374* F7I1 AL083741* and AL083740* F25D24 B25156* and B25155* F10L19 AL085429* and AL085428* F28J14 B25860* and B25859* F17D19 B23796* and B23795* F27O11 B25508* F27P23 AQ011498* and B25537* F11N11 B28323* and B28322* F16I17 B97693* GAP F1L15 AL080750* and AL080749* F2A9 AL080941* and AL080940* F2D1 AL081028* and AL081027* F2D22 AL081046* and AL081045* F2O8 AL081387* and AL081386* F2O14 AL081393* and AL081392* F3G24 none F9A7 AL084546* and AL084545* F10N9 AL085473* and AL085472* T1I15 AL088212* and AL088211* and B19832* and B19707* T1J6 AL088233* and AL088232* and B19834* and B19709* T2G13 AL088663* and AL088662* T6D10 AL090573* and AL090572* and B27383* and B27382* and B19977* and B19790* T7K14 AL091315* and B27422* and B27421* and B20115* and B19895* T8O12 B21405* and B21348* T9J24 AL092268* and AL092267* and B20132* and B19911* T9K2 AL092269* and B20133* and B19912* T10F10 AL092618* and AL092617* and B20076* and B19918* T15N4 AL095818* and AL095817* and B20044* and B19856* T16C1 AL095981* and AL095980* T16F22 AL096108* T16M9 AL096289* and AL096288* and B20053* and B19865* T18P7 B60875* and B60874* T21I24 B62398* and B20320* and B20288* T22E7 B61351* and B20426* and B20394* T24I9 B67385* and B67384* and B20450* and B20419* T24O5 B67422* and B20454* T25C15 AQ225286* and B67937* and B20460* T25F15 AC009529† F23H6 AC011621 T26J6 B76816* and B76815* T28G19 AC009328† GAP F6K8 AL083310* and AL083309* F25M24 B25253* F25F9 B23085* F28F20 B25620* F16C22 B97681* and B23646* F24M20 B25096* F27B5 B23236* and B23235* F21A14 AC016828† T4P3 AC009992 T14A11 AC012327 T26P13 AC009261 T18B3 AC011624† F12P5 AL086610* and AL086609* F22N7 AQ251226* F21N12 B24707* F7N6 none F12E16 none F21J13 AQ251199* and AQ011170* F25M18 B25251* F9B18 AL084600* and AL084599* F20J23 AQ011113* and B24515* F1G6 AL080561* and AL080560* and AQ251107* F7O4 AL083940* and AL083939* F1D4 AL080441* and AL080440* and B22163* F19P10 AQ251376* and AQ251268* F4P10 AL082481* and AL082480* F9I23 AL084818* and AL084817* F3I18 AL081711* and AL081710* F13K14 AL087018* and AL087017* F13K8 AL087008* and AL087007* F13J3 AL086965* and AL086964* F20F5 B22533* F1K22 AL080723* and AL080722* F3H19 AL081679* and AL081678* F23M13 B98039* F23N10 B98054* and B98053* F8M14 AL084410* and AL084409* F7C16 AL083567* and AL083566* F26D5 none F10J2 AL085340* F16L6 B23418* F26P16 B25396* and B25395* GAP F28D17 none F27E12 AQ251248* and AQ251142* and AQ011376* and AQ011375* F4M19 AL082399* and AL082398* T27B3 AL137079 F26B15 AL138645 T14K23 AL132909 T32A11 AL138653 F3O21 AL081924* and AL081923* F3I14 AL081705* and AL081704* F20C5 AQ251382* and AQ251273* F14B7 AL087267* and AL087266* F14K13 AL087604* and AL087603* F21L14 B97938* and B24690* F23O12 B98080* and B98079* F14G1 AL087450* and AL087449* F19I17 AQ225333* F7C3 AL083548* and AL083547* F4I11 AL082258* and AL082257* F7J17 AL083789* and AL083788* F18L6 B22332* and B22331* F16N18 B25775* F28J6 B23358* F7C6 AL083554* and AL083553* F28C1 B23304* and B23303* F18I17 B24063* F10P16 AL085555* and AL085554* F24G17 none F4K4 AL082320* and AL082319* F26B15 B25309* and B25308* F12P9 AL086614* and AL086613* F8C3 AL084070* and AL084069* F25D21 B25153* and B25152* F27C7 AQ010648* and AQ010647* and B23240* F23G13 none F15B16 AL087857* and AL087856* CENTROMERE 4 T27D20 AF076274 T19B17 AF069441 T26N6 AF076243 F4H6 AF074021 T19J18 AF149414 T4B21 AF118223 T1J1 AF128393 T32N4 AF162444 C17L7 none C6L9 none T1J24 AF147263 F6H8 AF178045 F21I2 AF147261 GAP F14G16 AF147260 F28D6 AF147262 CENTROMERE 5 F3F24 AC018632 F13K20 AL087030* and AL087029* F6L19 none F23C8 AC018928 F18F14 B10562* F22D5 AQ251214* F12P18 none F6C14 none GAP F28N5 B23377* F2C13 none F12P1 AL086602* F9K2 AL084855* F23F23 AL086757 F13D7 AL086757* and AL086756* F4C11 AL082053* and AL082052* F28G24 none F7C4 AL083550* and AL083549* F4B15 AL082023* and AL082022* F19I11 AQ010999* F3M22 AL081848* and AL081847* F1M22 AL080803* and AL080802* F21A22 B24614* and B24613* F8P23 AL084535* and AL084534* F17M7 B22216* and B22215* F21B21 B24632* F17G22 B23828* and B23827* F11P4 AL086088* and AL086087* F14J11 AL087566* and AL087565* F7J19 AL083792* and AL083791* F20G20 none F27H14 AQ251251* and AQ251145* F25E10 none F24I23 B25815* and B25066* T3D5 AL089085* and AL089084* T17G5 AL096632* and AL096631* F20C16 B24433* F27M22 none F27K1 B23257* F21N24 B61479* and B24716* F11F13 AL085745* and AL085744* F5O15 AL082980* and AL082979* F8G15 AL084218* and AL084217* F9A17 B12265* and B10646* F25E19 none F24C5 AQ010525* and AQ010524* F27L2 AQ010708* and B96166* F10A6 AL085056* and AL085055* F23B23 AQ011184* F1E3 AL0804828* and AL080481* and B22171* and B22170* GAP F20J17 AQ011108* and B24510* F21O22 B24736* and B24735* F26O21 none F25M11 B25245* and B25244* F18F8 B26318* and B22290* F17M12 B23910* F22M20 B96430* F9K6 AL084860* F13J20 AL086992* and AL086991* F12E24 AL086282* and AL086281 F26K6 AQ010623* and AQ010622* F12L5 AL086477* and AL086476* F11B6 AL085606* and AL085605* F21M19 B24701 F3N7 AL081864* and AL081863* F10J11 none F11F9 AL085739* and AL085738* F3G22 AL081647* and AL081646* F15E15 B23535* F10K18 AL085397* and AL085396* F5B20 AL082559* and AL082558* F1F13 AL080535 F26M13 none F18D9 B26307* and B22283* F28D1 B23312* F13C19 AL086736* and AL086735* F28I1 none F26D1 B23180* F16J19 B97706* and B25740* F2D20 AL081042* F22N6 B98712* and B98711* F27K3 AQ010703* F19I24 AQ011005* F19J19 none F24E18 AQ011661* and AQ011660* and B25052* F27K6 AQ010706* and AQ010705* and B96164* and B23259* F25L7 AQ010583* F28M5 B23516* and B23371* F18L3 none F14C23 AL087326* and AL087325* F11C6 AL085640* and AL085639* F6O24 AL083442* and AL083441* F1M8 AL080782* and AL080781* F16J23 B97710* and B23709* F18O9 B98639* and B98638* and B98691* and B22349* F26L23 AQ011321* and AQ011320* F3B13 AL081491* and AL081490* F22D12 B24795* F1G16 none F10M21 AL085461* F2A14 AL080946* and AL080945* F13M20 AL087096* and AL087095* F19J6 none F9O15 AL085006* and AL085005* F5A6 AL082510* and AL082509* F17D12 B97751* and B23790* F11C12 AL085648* and AL085647* F26P20 B25400* and B25399* F13I18 AL086953* and AL086952* F2I22 B12725* and B08590* F21B11 B24621* and B24620* F28A24 AQ011507* and B25554* F13O14 AL087167* and AL087166* F14A22 AL087257* and AL087256* F21G14 B97912* F18M12 B09450* and B09052* F3D18 AL081552* F28K14 B25874* and B25873* F28L21 B25895* and B25894* F1D3 AL080439* and AL080438* F16O19 B97731* F15I15 AQ251156* and AQ251026* F27G1 AQ010677* and B23247* and B23246* F22C19 B97947* F1E16 AQ251175* F18F18 AQ251089 F12P2 AL086604* and AL086603* F15O18 B23621* and B23620* F13D8 AL086759* and AL086758* F23J22 AQ011543* and AQ011257* F3K18 none F17O22 AQ251082* F25A22 B25136* F15G12 AQ251153* and AQ251023* F23A7 B95912* and B95911* F26L22 AQ011319* and AQ011318* and B62693* F11B20 AL085623* and AL085622* T28K13 B61711* T19L12 B61940* and B61939* F25A15 AQ251405* and AQ251342* F22H10 AQ251219* F3N13 AL081870* and AL081869* F27F24 AQ251249* and AQ251143* F27J18 AQ011439* F20K22 AQ011121* and B24528* F2J19 AL081240* and AL081239* and B26437* F9F4 AL084708* and AL084707* and B30281* F8P17 AL084523* and AL084522* F7E14 AL083629* and AL083628* F26J23 AQ011270 F19N2 None F27G5 AQ010682* and AQ010681* *= partial (BAC end) sequence †= full sequence in more than one part

TABLE 6 Fully sequenced BAC clones containing A. thaliana centromere sequences* Genbank Clone^(†) Accession No. Date Of Availability^(#) Comment CENTROMERE 1 F28L22 AC007505 Feb. 7, 2000; May 6, 1999 T32E20 AC020646 10 Feb. 2000; Jan. 8, 2000 F12G6 AC007781 Jun. 11, 1999 3 unordererd pieces F9D18 AC007183 Mar. 30, 1999 6 unordererd pieces T4I21 AC022456 Feb. 28, 2000; Feb. 3, 2000 F5A13 AC008046 Feb. 8, 2000; Jul. 14, 1999 CENTROMERE 2 T13E11 AC006217 Dec. 17, 1999; Dec. 24, 1998 F27C21 AC006527 Dec. 17, 1999; Feb. 5, 1999 F9A16 AC007662 Dec. 17, 1999; May 27, 1999 T5M2 AC007730 Dec. 17, 1999; Jun. 5, 1999 T17H1 AC007143 Dec. 17, 1999; Mar. 17, 1999 T18C6 AC007729 Dec. 17, 1999; Jun. 5, 1999 T5E7 AC006225 Dec. 17, 1999; Jun. 5, 1999 T12J2 AC004483 Dec. 17, 1999; Jul. 17, 1999 GAP T6C20 AC005898 Mar. 20, 1999; Dec. 7, 10 unordererd pieces 1998 T14C8 AC006219 Dec. 17, 1999; Feb. 9, 1999 F7B19 AC006586 Dec. 17, 1999; Feb. 19, 1999 T15D9 AC007120 Dec. 17, 1999; Mar. 19, 1999 entire chromosome II AE002093 Dec. 17, 1999; Dec. 16, 1999 CENTROMERE 3 T25F15 AC009529 Dec. 3, 1999; Aug. 16, 2 unordererd pieces 1999 F23H6 AC011621 Nov. 24, 1999; Oct. 8, 1999 T28G19 AC009328 Oct. 26, 1999; Aug. 16, 16 unordererd pieces 1999 T18B3 AC011624 Nov. 18, 1999; Oct. 8, 14 unordererd pieces 1999 T26P13 AC009261 Nov. 3, 1999; Aug. 10, 1999 T14A11 AC012327 Nov. 20, 1999; Oct. 23, 1999 T4P3 AC009992 Oct. 21, 1999; Sep. 9, 1999 F21A14 AC016828 Jan. 13, 2000; Dec. 3, 6 unordererd pieces 1999 T27B3 AL137079 Jan. 21, 2000 F26B15 AL138645 Feb. 2, 2000 T14K23 AL132909 Nov. 12, 1999 T32A11 AL138653 Feb. 2, 2000 CHROMOSOME 4 T27D20 AF076274 Aug. 3, 1998 T19B17 AF069441 Jun. 3, 1999 T26N6 AF076243 May 11, 1999 F4H6 AF074021 May 11, 1999 T19J18 AF149414 Aug. 13, 1999 T4B21 AF118223 Aug. 10, 1999; Jan. 7, 1999 T1J1 AF128393 Nov. 12, 1999 T32N4 AF162444 Aug. 13, 1999 C17L7 AC012392 Oct. 27, 1999 C6L9 AC012477 Nov. 6, 1999 T1J24 AF147263 Aug. 13, 1999 F6H8 AF178045 Aug. 19, 1999 F21I2 AF147261 May 11, 1999 GAP F14G16 AF147260 Aug. 13, 1999 F28D6 AF147262 Aug. 13, 1999 entire chromosome IV http://websvr.mips. Dec. 17, 1999 biochem.mpg.de/proj/ thal/chr4_announcement/ CENTROMERE 5 F3F24 AC018632 Dec. 15, 1999 F23C8 AC018928 Dec. 24, 1999 *The sequences for clones from centromeres 1, 3 and 5 are given in SEQ ID NOS: 184-208. Sequences for contigs including the centromere 2 and 4 clones are given by SEQ ID NOS: 209-212. ^(†)BAC clone number designations are given. The centromere number origin of the clone is as indicated. ^(#)Where a second date is given, the second date indicates the date for the revised sequence.

Example 7 Constructing BAC Vectors for Testing Centromere Function

A BAC clone may be retrofitting with one or more plant telomeres and selectable markers together with the DNA elements necessary for Agrobacterium transformation (FIG. 9). This method will provide a means to deliver any BAC clone into plant cells and to test it for centromere function.

The method works in the following way. The conversion vector contains a retrofitting cassette. The retrofitting cassette is flanked by Tn10, Tn5, Tn7, Mu or other transposable elements and contains an origin of replication and a selectable marker for Agrobacterium, a plant telomere array followed by T-DNA right and left borders followed by a second plant telomere array and a plant selectable marker (FIG. 9). The conversion vector is transformed into an E. coli strain carrying the target BAC. The transposable elements flanking the retrofitting cassette then mediate transposition of the cassette randomly into the BAC clone. The retrofitted BAC clone can now be transformed into an appropriate strain of Agrobacterium and then into plant cells where it can be tested for high fidelity meiotic and mitotic transmission which would indicate that the clone contained a complete functional plant centromere.

Example 8 Construction of Plant Minichromosomes

Minichromosomes are constructed by combining the previously isolated essential chromosomal elements. Exemplary minichromosome vectors include those designed to be “shuttle vectors”; i.e., they can be maintained in a convenient host (such as E. coli, Agrobacterium or yeast) as well as plant cells.

A. General Techniques for Minichromosome Construction

A minichromosome can be maintained in E. coli or other bacterial cells as a circular molecule by placing a removable stuffer fragment between the telomeric sequence blocks. The stuffer fragment is a dispensable DNA sequence, bordered by unique restriction sites, which can be removed by restriction digestion of the circular DNAs to create linear molecules with telomeric ends. The linear minichromosome can then be isolated by, for example, gel electrophoresis. In addition to the stuffer fragment and the plant telomeres, the minichromosome contains a replication origin and selectable marker that can function in plants to allow the circular molecules to be maintained in bacterial cells. The minichromosomes also include a plant selectable marker, a plant centromere, and a plant ARS to allow replication and maintenance of the DNA molecules in plant cells. Finally, the minichromosome includes several unique restriction sites where additional DNA sequence inserts can be cloned. The most expeditious method of physically constructing such a minichromosome, i.e., ligating the various essential elements together for example, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in this art.

A number of minichromosome vectors have been designed by the current inventors and are disclosed herein for the purpose of illustration (FIGS. 7A-7H). These vectors are not limiting however, as it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that many changes and alterations may be made and still obtain a functional vector.

B. Modified Technique for Minichromosome Construction

A two step method was developed for construction of minichromosomes, which allows adding essential elements to BAC clones containing centromeric DNA. These procedures can take place in vivo, eliminating problems of chromosome breakage that often happen in the test tube. The details and advantages of the techniques are as follows:

1.) One plasmid can be created that contains markers, origins and border sequences for Agrobacterium transfer, markers for selection and screening in plants, plant telomeres, and a loxP site or other site useful for site-specific recombination in vivo or in vitro. The second plasmid can be an existing BAC clone, isolated from the available genomic libraries (FIG. 11A).

2.) The two plasmids are mixed, either within a single E. coli cell, or in a test tube, and the site-specific recombinase cre is introduced. This will cause the two plasmids to fuse at the loxP sites (FIG. 11B).

3.) If deemed necessary, useful restriction sites (AseI/PacI or Not I) are included to remove excess material. (for example other selectable markers or replication origins)

4.) Variations include vectors with or without a Kan® gene (FIGS. 11B, 1 IC), with or without a LAT52 GUS gene, with a LAT52 GFP gene, and with a GUS gene under the control of other plant promoters. (FIGS. 11C, 11D and 11E).

C. Method for Preparation of Stable Non-Integrated Minichromosomes

A technique has been developed to ensure that minichromosomes do no integrate into the host genome (FIG. 11F). In particular, minichromosomes must be maintained as distinct elements separate from the host chromosomes. To ensure that the introduced minichromosome does not integrate, the inventors envision a variety that would encode a lethal plant gene (such as diptheria toxin or any other gene product that, when expressed, causes lethality in plants). This gene could be located between the right Agrobacterium border and the telomere. Minichromosomes that enter a plant nucleus and integrate into a host chromosome would result in lethality. However, if the minichromosome remains separate, and further, if the ends of this construct are degraded up to the telomeres, then the lethal gene would be removed and the cells would survive.

Example 9 In Vivo Screen of Centromere Activity by the Analysis of Dicentric Chromosomes

A method was designed for the screening of centromere activity (FIG. 10). In the method, plants are first transformed with binary BAC clones that contain DNA from the genetically-defined centromeric regions. By allowing the DNA to integrate into the host chromosomes, it is expected that this integration will result in a chromosome with two centromeres. This is an unstable situation which often leads to chromosome breakage, as single chromosomes harboring two or more functional centromeres will often times break at junctions between the two centromeres when pulled towards opposite poles during mitotic and meiotic events. This can lead to severe growth defects and inviable progeny when genes important or essentially for cellular and developmental processes are disrupted by the breakage event. Therefore, regions having centromere function could be identified by looking for clones that exhibit, upon introduction into a host plant, any of the following predicted properties: reduced efficiencies of transformation; causation of genetic instability when integrated into natural chromosomes such that the transformed plants show aberrant sectors and increased lethality; a difficulty to maintain, particularly when the transformed plants are grown under conditions that do not select for maintenance of the transgenes; a tendency to integrate into the genome at the distal tips of chromosomes or at the centromeric regions. In contrast, clones comprising non-centromeric DNA will be expected to integrate in a more random pattern. Confirmation of a resulting distribution and pattern of integration can be determined by sequencing the ends of the inserted DNA.

The screen is performed by identifying clones of greater than 100 kb that encode centromere DNA in a BiBAC library (binary bacterial artificial chromosomes) (Hamilton, 1997). This is done by screening filters comprising a BiBAC genomic library for clones that encode DNA from the centromeres (FIG. 10, step 1). The BiBAC vector is used because it can contain large inserts of Arabidopsis genomic material and also encodes the binary sequences needed for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The centromere sequence containing BiBAC vectors are then directly integrated into chromosomes by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (FIG. 10, step 2). As a control, BiBAC constructs containing non-centromeric DNA also are used for transformation. BiBACs harboring sequences with centromere function will result in forming dicentric chromosomes. Progeny from transformed plants will be analyzed for nonviability and gross morphological differences that can be attributed to chromosomal breaks due to the formation of dicentric chromosomes (FIG. 10, step 3). Non-centromere sequences are expected to show little phenotypic differences from wildtype plants

Example 10 Refined Centromere Mapping with Treatment for Increased Recombination

In order to achieve a more refined map position for the centromeres in Arabidopsis thaliana, various chemical and environmental treatments were used to stimulate recombination. The treatments were used on pollen donors in crosses performed to create the tetrad sets of plants (see EXAMPLE 2). Pollen donor plants were planted individually in 1 inch square pots and grown under 24 hr light in a growth room until flowering. Flowering plants were then dipped in one of the following solutions and watered with 50 ml of the same solution. TABLE 7 Chemical Treatment Agents. COMPOUND SOURCE CONCENTRATION RANGE Mitomycin C: Sigma from about 0.1 to about 30 mg/L, and preferably, about 10 mg/L 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine: Sigma from about 0.1 mg/L to about 50 mg/L, and preferably, about 25 mg/L n-butyric acid (a.k.a. sodium Sigma from about 0.1 mM to about 40 mM, and preferably, about 20 mM butyrate): Trichostatin A: Sigma from about 0.1 μM to about 30 μM, and preferably, about 10 μM Methanesulfonic acid methyl ester: Sigma from about 0.1 ppm to about 200 ppm, and preferably, about 75 ppm Methanesulfonic acid ethyl ester: Sigma from about 0.01% to about 0.2%, and preferably, about 0.05% 3-methoxybenzamide: Aldrich Chemical Co. from about 0.1 mM to about 10 mM, and preferably, about 2 mM Zeocin: Invitrogen from about 0.1 μg/ml to about 5 μg/ml, and preferably, about 1 μg/ml n-nitroso-n-ethylurea: Sigma from about 1 μM to about 200 μM, and preferably, about 100 μM cis-diamminedichloro-platinum (II): Aldrich Chemical Co. from about 0.1 μg/ml to about 60 μg/ml, and preferably, about 20 μg/ml sodium azide Sigma from about 0.01 mM to 10 mM Dimethylnitrosamine Sigma from about 1 μM to about 1 mM Bleomycin Sigma from about 0.1 mg/L to about 30 mg/L Aflotoxin B1 Sigma from about 8 μg/mL to about 800 μg/mL 8-methoxypsoralen Sigma From about 0.01 mM to about 50 mM Cyclophosphamide Sigma from about .001 mg/L to about 500 mg/L Hydroxyurea Sigma from about 1 mM to about 0.01 mM Actinomycin D Sigma from about 0.0001% to about 0.1% solution Diepoxybutane Sigma from about 0.001% to about 1.0% solution Caffeine Sigma from about 0.01% to about 5.0% solution

Following treatment, plants were then returned to the growth room and grown under standard conditions for 2-5 days. Pollen was then collected from newly opened flowers and used to pollinate receptive stigmas as described in Example 2. Then the pollen donor plants were again treated as described above and used in another round of pollination. Pollen donor plants were typically subjected to 5-10 rounds of treatment and pollen collection.

Treatments were also performed using non-chemical agents. As above, the treatments were used to achieve more refined map positions for the centromeres in Arabidopsis by stimulating recombination in additional pollen donor plants. The treatments were as follows: TABLE 8 Non-Chemical Treatment Agents. TREATMENT TREATMENT PARAMETERS heat shock: about 35° C. to about 48° C., and preferably, about 42° C. UV exposure about 1 second to about 50 seconds, and preferably, (350 nm): about 7 seconds Gamma radiation: about 0.1 kRads to about 20 kRads, and preferably, about 10 kRads Magnetic field about 1 to 20 Tesla for 1 h to continuous cold stress about −10 to 15 C for 1 min to continuous

Heat shock treatments were performed by placing the pot containing the pollen donor plants in shallow dishes filled with water (to prevent desiccation), and placing the plant-containing dishes in incubators of the appropriate temperature. UV exposure was performed by placing the pollen donor plants in a BioRad UV chamber and illuminating the plants at the appropriate wave length for varying amounts of time. Both the UV and heat shock plants were subjected to several rounds of treatment and pollen collection. Plants exposed to a gamma radiation source (Cobalt-60) were treated only once and then discarded to prevent the accumulation of deleterious chromosomal rearrangements.

Following treatment, plants were then returned to the growth room and grown under standard conditions for 2-5 days. Pollen was then collected from newly opened flowers and used to pollinate receptive stigmas as described in Example 2. Then the pollen donor plants were again treated as described above and used in another round of pollination. Pollen donor plants were typically subjected to 5-10 rounds of treatment and pollen collection. The results are shown at Table 9 below. TABLE 9 Results of Recombination After Treatments Treatment Tetrads Obs Exp (O − E)²/E = X² n-butyric acid 43 11 2.5 28.9** UV exposure 350 nm 57 12 3.2 24.2** Methanesulfonic acid ethyl 10  5* 0.6 32.2** ester 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine 68 16 3.9 37.5** heat shock 23  7 1.3 25.0** 3-methoxybenzamide 44  8 2.5 12.1** Zeocin 106 14 6.0 10.6** Untreated 384 22 N/A N/A **indicates significant by X² (df = 1)

Example 11 Facilitation of Genetic Introgression

It is also contemplated by the inventors that one could employ techniques or treatments which stimulate recombination to facilitate introgression. Introgression describes a breeding technique whereby one or more desired traits is transferred into one strain (A) from another (B), the trait is then isolated in the genetic background of the desired strain (A) by a series of backcrosses to the same strain (A). The number of backcrosses required to isolate the desired trait in the desired genetic background is dependent on the frequency of recombination in each backcross.

Backcrossing transfers a specific desirable trait from one source to an inbred or other plant that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate gene(s) for the trait in question, for example, a construct prepared in accordance with the current invention. The progeny of this cross first are selected in the resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent, then the selected progeny are mated back to the superior recurrent parent (A). After five or more backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, the progeny are hemizygous for loci controlling the characteristic being transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almost all other genes. The last backcross generation would be selfed to give progeny which are pure breeding for the gene(s) being transferred, i.e. one or more transformation events.

Therefore, through a series a breeding manipulations, a selected transgene may be moved from one line into an entirely different line without the need for further recombinant manipulation. Transgenes are valuable in that they typically behave genetically as any other gene and can be manipulated by breeding techniques in a manner identical to any other corn gene. Therefore, one may produce inbred plants which are true lj breeding for one or more transgenes. By crossing different inbred plants, one may produce a large number of different hybrids with different combinations of transgenes. In this way, plants may be produced which have the desirable agronomic properties frequently associated with hybrids (“hybrid vigor”), as well as the desirable characteristics imparted by one or more transgene(s).

Breeding also can be used to transfer an entire minichromosome from one plant to another plant. For example, by crossing a first plant having a minichromosome to a second plant lacking the minichromosome, progeny of any generation of this cross may be obtained having the minichromosome, or any additional number of desired minichromosomes. Through a series of backcrosses, a plant may be obtained that has the genetic background of the second plant but has the minichromosome from the first plant.

All of the compositions and methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplary procedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

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1. A recombinant DNA construct comprising a plant centromere. 2-8. (canceled)
 9. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, which additionally comprises a structural gene.
 10. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 9, wherein the structural gene comprises a selectable or screenable marker gene. 11-38. (canceled)
 39. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, which is capable of being maintained as a chromosome, wherein said chromosome is transmitted in dividing cells. 40-91. (canceled)
 92. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, comprising n copies of a repeated nucleotide sequence, wherein n is at least
 2. 93-102. (canceled)
 103. A minichromosome vector comprising a plant centromere and a telomere sequence.
 104. The minichromosome vector of claim 103, comprising an autonomous replicating sequence.
 105. The minichromosome vector of claim 103, comprising a second telomere sequence.
 106. The minichromosome vector of claim 103, comprising a structural gene.
 107. The minichromosome vector of claim 103, further defined as comprising a second structural gene.
 108. (canceled)
 109. A cell transformed with a recombinant DNA construct of claim
 1. 110-127. (canceled)
 128. A plant comprising the cell of claim
 109. 129. A method of preparing a transgenic plant cell comprising contacting a starting plant cell with a recombinant DNA construct of claim 1, whereby said starting plant cell is transformed with said recombinant DNA construct.
 130. The method of claim 129, wherein said recombinant DNA construct comprises a structural gene.
 131. The method of claim 130, wherein the recombinant DNA construct comprises a second structural gene. 132-133. (canceled)
 134. A transgenic plant comprising a minichromosome vector of claim
 103. 135-146. (canceled)
 147. A method of producing a minichromosome vector of claim 103 comprising (a) obtaining a first vector and a second vector, wherein said first vector or said second vector comprises a selectable or screenable marker, an origin of replication, a telomere, and a plant centromere, and wherein said first vector and said second vector comprises a site for site-specific recombination; and (b) contacting said first vector with said second vector to allow site-specific recombination to occur between said site for site-specific recombination on said first vector and said site for site-specific recombination on said second vector to create a minichromosome vector comprising said selectable or screenable marker, said origin of replication, said telomere and said plant centromere. 148-163. (canceled)
 164. A method of screening a candidate centromere sequence for plant centromere activity, said method comprising the steps of (a) obtaining an isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a candidate centromere sequence; (b) integratively transforming plant cells with said isolated nucleic acid; and (c) screening for centromere activity of said candidate centromere sequence. 165-231. (canceled) 